Hot Water Heater Repair & Installation
Corona CA
- Free estimates
- Same day service available
- 24/7 emergency service
- Gas, electric, propane
- Tank & tankless
- Clean, reliable, and on-time
- 100% satisfaction guaranteed
- Family owned & operated
- Over 500 five-star customer reviews
- Call today at (951) 344-5596
Call Today!
(951) 344-5596
Water Heater Flush Services
Water Heater Repairs
Water Heater Installations
Over 500 Five-Star Customer Reviews!
Corona CA Water Heater Repair & Installation Services
Do you have water heater problems?
RT Olson Plumbing offers complete hot water heater repair and installation services, including:
- water heater flush
- repair service
- installation
- standard water heaters with a tank
- tankless water heaters
- water heater replacement
- remove and haul away old water heater
We work on, replace, and install new water heaters of all types including:
- gas
- electric
- propane
Of any size:
- 40 gallons
- 50 gallons
- 75 gallons
- Etc.
NOTE: So Cal Gas is currently providing rebates of $600 to $1,000 for certified Energy Star rated tankless water heaters. Check their rebates page for current availability.
*Instant Hot Water*
Would you like hot water instantly, on demand, at every faucet and shower the moment you turn on the faucet? We can make that happen for you. Contact us and ask about your instant hot water options.
We Sell & Install Bradford White Water Heaters
Water Heater Info & DIY Tips Menu
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(951) 344-5596
7 Signs You Might Need A Water Heater Repair or Replacement
How can you tell if your water heater needs to be repaired or replaced?
Water heaters tend to develop problems with age, and finally either fail to heat the water or begin leaking.
A serious leak from an indoor tank-type heater can cause serious damage to wood floors, carpets, and furniture.
Here are 7 signs you may need a water heater replacement:
- Age of your water heater
- Rust and corrosion
- Rumblings and noises
- Drain valve is not draining anymore
- Water heater is leaking
- Noticeable drop in water temperature
- Pilot won’t light
1. Age of hot water heater
If you have a tank type water heater, it should last roughly eight to twelve years. Tankless water heaters last quite a lot longer, typically about twenty years.
If you bought a used home and don’t know how old the water heater is, check the manufacturer’s label.
Some manufacturers clearly state the date of manufacture somewhere near the Model Number.
Look for “MFG Date:” followed by a month and year. But many manufacturers code that date into the serial number, making it more challenging to find.
For example, a serial number such as “G16237109” contains the Date of Manufacture in the first three figures. G, being the seventh letter of the alphabet stands for the seventh month, or July.
Then, the first two numerical digits of the serial number are 16, which represents the year, 2016, so this water heater was made in July 2016.
But each manufacturer may have their own date coding, so here is a handy list for decoding the age of your water heater by manufacturer.
Whether a tank-style water heater lasts a full twelve years or fails in less than eight years depends on both luck and proper maintenance.
But even with proper maintenance, there is no certainty that you will get twelve years trouble-free.
If your tank-style water heater is approaching the 10-year point, or your tankless water heater is approaching twenty years, it will likely need replacing soon.
If your water heater is located indoors, or where a leak can damage your home, you should likely replace it after 10 years at the latest, or before, if there is also rust in your water, or noisy heating cycles (see 2 and 3 below).
2. Rust and corrosion
Visually check your tank for rust or corrosion. Specifically, look for rust or corrosion around the temperature and pressure relief valve, and the water inlet and outlet connections.
Rust from a water heater may also show up in your tap water. Finding rust or corrosion can be an indication that your tank is rusting and needs to be replaced. (A tank cannot be repaired once it has started to rust and corrode.) If the rust is here, the leak will follow!
If your water heater is located inside your home, leaking water, especially from a large tank-style water heater, can cause thousands of dollar’s worth of damage. Imagine water from a 70-gallon tank soaking your carpets or wood flooring. Yikes!
If the water heater is inside your house, consider replacing a 10-year old tank-style heater right away because the rust is telling you that the tank is about to have holes in it!
If your tank is located in a garage where water damage may be minimal, you have an option of waiting for the leak to happen before getting it replaced. But that’s not recommended.
3. Rumblings and noises
If you hear rumbling, thumping, or banging sounds coming from the water heater tank during its heating cycles, it’s a likely sign that the water heater is at the end of its useful life.
The noises develop because sediment builds up on the bottom of the tank in its years of use. Heated sedimentary layers make noises.
As the sediment gets repeatedly reheated, it hardens it until it becomes impossible to remove through simple flush-out maintenance.
If your home has hard water, you should flush out your water heater annually.
Hardened sediment also causes the heater to use more gas or electricity to heat the water as the unit becomes less and less efficient.
More time spent heating the water is equivalent to more wear on the metal tank.
The tank thus becomes brittle faster, and will eventually crack or begin developing tiny holes.
If your water heater is getting noisy as it heats water, look for any small leaks and consider replacing your water heater very soon!
4. Unable to drain water through the drain valve
The Heater Drain Valve is a valve near the bottom of the water heater that can be used to drain water out of the tank in order to flush out sediment or to drain the tank.
It resembles a spigot fixture to which a hose can be attached for draining or flushing out.
A regular maintenance of flushing out your water heater once a year can prevent the build-up of sediment mentioned in #3 above.
In addition to degrading the interior of the tank, sediment can also clog the drain valve.
You may be able to unclog the drain valve yourself. But if the sediment has hardened to a point where the tank can no longer be drained, or if leaks have developed, it’s probably time to replace your water heater.
If you think you can get by just replacing a clogged drain valve, here is a how-to video from Rheem.
5. Your hot water tank is leaking
A leak from your hot water tank is usually an internal problem and is not really repairable.
But before calling for a replacement of your water heater, there are steps you can take to find other possible sources of the leak. So, first look for any fittings or valves that just need to be tightened or replaced.
- Check the water pipe connections at the top of your water heater. They may just need tightening or replacement of corroded parts.
- Check the overflow pipe attached to the temperature relief valve on the water heater. This is a safety valve to relieve excess temperature and pressure inside the water heater. This pipe is designed to occasionally blows off a little steam, and this is not a problem with your water heater. But, if it leaks frequently or continuously, get it checked by a professional.
- Examine the drain valve at the bottom of your water heater tank (#4 above) see to see if it is leaking. It can be tightened or replaced.
If the leak is coming from the tank itself, simple repairs won’t do. Turn off the water and power to your water heater. It’s time to install a new unit.
6. Your water is only lukewarm or even cold
If you find your water no longer gets as hot as it did, something is wrong. It may be a problem with the heating element or with the electric thermostat. These parts can fail or malfunction.
Water can also get cooled within the tank by a broken dip tube, which descends from the cold water supply at the top of the water heater down into the heater tank.
7. A gas water heater pilot won’t light
The most common reason for a pilot not to light, or not to stay lit, is a bad thermocouple., Usually, a simple repair will fix the problem. You may be able to replace a bad thermocouple yourself. Click here to watch a video on how.
Other issues with gas pilot lights are helpfully discussed here.
Call Today!
(951) 344-5596
Hot Water Heater Safety
Watch a water heater explode!
Don’t let your water heater become a bomb!
Home fires and explosions from faulty water heaters can be prevented with regular maintenance and inspections.
RT Olson Plumbing recommends annual water heater inspections and tune-ups.
We’ll have a professional and experienced plumber inspect your water heater to make sure all of it’s safety mechanisms are working properly. For gas water heaters, we’ll also inspect your connections to prevent gas leaks.
Water heater repairs and replacements are best left to professionals. Installing or repairing a water heater yourself may save you a few dollars, but improper installation can cause a number of far more costly problems.
Click here for Nationwide Insurance important tips for water heater safety.
Call Today!
(951) 344-5596
Hot Water Heater Repair or Replacement?
Repairing Your Hot Water Heater
If you determine that your water heater can be repaired, and you feel handy enough with plumbing work, you may be able to do some work yourself.
If you feel better hiring an experienced, professional plumber, ask your plumber the following questions:
- What is the estimated cost of the necessary repair?
- What is the life expectancy of the water heater after the repairs are completed?
- What would be the cost of a new water heater (including labor)?
With these answered, you have the information you need to decide if it is worth your time and money to repair the unit.
Replacing Your Hot Water Heater
If you’ve determined that you need to replace your water heater, ask yourself the following:
- Did the tank size of your old water heater meet your current household needs? If not, you may want to purchase a larger tank.
- Would it make good economic sense for you to switch from a tank-style heater to a tankless water heater? Consider the Pros and Cons of tankless water heaters discussed below.
- Will you hire a plumber or install the water heater yourself? For safety, we recommend getting a professional, experienced plumber to properly perform any water heater installation. But you can research installations on-line for how-to videos, and see if you feel comfortable with your skills, knowledge, and tools.
Water Heater Installation Costs & Sizing
There are many variables affecting the total cost for water heater installations:
- The prices of the units themselves vary for propane, gas, or electric water heaters.
- Tankless water heaters generally cost more initially than tank-style hot water heaters.
- The required size or heating capacity is a factor whether for tank-style or tankless water heaters.
For example, tank-style water heaters come in various capacities, the larger costing more. As a rule of thumb, tank size requirements are as follows:
- 40 gal for 1 bath house
- 50 gal for 2 bath house
- 75 gal for 3-4 bath house
- The location of the installation affects costs.
- Varied modifications to the plumbing system and pipe runs are a factor in overall cost (copper is very expensive).
For information about how to size a tankless water heater for your household, check out our blog post on that topic.
If it’s time for your old hot water heater to be replaced, or you want a new installation for new construction, please contact us at (951) 344-5596. We will answer your questions and help you choose the most appropriate new water heater for your needs.
Call Today!
(951) 344-5596
More Customer Reviews
5.0 rating
It was great , had no problem and you were out quick and resolved are problem with a new water heater, I told my brother in law about you, and you sent someone over the same day he called you guys, and put a new Bradford White water heater for him also. Thank you for your great work and help!!
5/1/2022
Waterheater replacement. On time and great service.
9/9/2021
5.0 rating
The young man (Kyle) that installed the temporary water heater set up was knowledgeable, efficient and likable. He answered the questions that I had for him.The water heater model they installed comes highly recommended.
8/30/2021
Waterheater replacement. On time and great service.
9/9/2021
Thank you for help putting my water heater and you guys came less then in hr .I will call you guys back when I need something else done. You guys are very affordable.
8/3/2021
I have used RT Olson’s services on three separate occasions. They flushed and repaired my tankless water heater, replaced the pressure valve and did the plumbing work to restore our bathroom after a water damage. Each time they prompt, professional and did the job right the first time. I would highly recommend RT Olson for any plumbing work you need.
2/15/2021
I had my water heater replaced. I called and you asked some questions regarding the old heater. Then you gave me a quote that seemed fair. You completed the replacement quickly and efficiently and did not charge a dime more than the quote. Thank you!! Mark
2/8/2021
Excellent service. A pipe behind our water heater busted and leaked, flooded that part of the house. They had to find the leak and plug it, set up a temporary water heater until the house repairs were done, then came and set everything back up for us and taught me a few things. They kept me informed throughout the whole process and were very attentive to all my concerns. Timely and efficient, I really appreciate all that they helped me with. Thank you, Donna
12/16/2020
Great experience! After going round and around with a few other companies trying to get someone out for just an estimate, I finally called these guys around 1pm, by 1:30 they showed up to give an estimate to fix our water heater, then they left briefly to get another ladder but returned quickly and had it all fixed it by 2:30!
It was affordable, quick, easy and the 2 guys who came out were super helpful, professional, and informative, they explained everything that needed to be done and how they were gonna do it and overall the whole experience was super great.
1/28/2020
Just after Thanksgiving I got estimates for replacement of my leaking garbage disposal. With this company, I paid almost 1/2 of the other estimates. His team member (Nick) came and replaced it in a very short time. Very professional and courteous.
Before December was over, I needed a new hot water heater. I called Bob ~ one team immediately came out to assess what was needed. The next day the equipment was delivered and another team came & replaced it, leaving the area cleaner than they found it. Because the extended warranty I opted for was not immediately available from the manufacturer, Bob informed me I would not have to pay until that was received. Once it was available, Bob Olson himself came out to assist with filling it out & attaching the sticker to the new heater. I could not be happier with Bob and his crew members – this will always be my plumbing choice and I would highly recommend them to anyone needing assistance with plumbing issues. Thanks Bob!!
1/11/2020
Everything went great. The team was very professional and the installation was wonderful. The communication was very helpful and I learned alot about tankless water heaters
12/8/2019
4.5 rating
Installed my water heater in an emergency, sort of. Gave me a good price and was available when we needed it.
3/27/2019
5.0 rating
We’ve used RT Olson for a few projects now and will continue to do so when the next project arises. They fixed a water main leak, changed shower fixtures, changed our pressure regulator, and installed a water heater along with a salt water softener system and new hose bibs to utilize the soft water via hose outside in addition to the benefits inside the house.
Bob also fixed a leak, by our kitchen sink that was under our recently poured concrete patio by accessing the leak from the inside of the kitchen cabinet (whereas another company wanted to break the concrete). They offer suggestions and are willing to discuss all options/solutions. Very professional. Highly recommend RT Olson!
4/5/2016
I spoke with Bob yesterday and explained that I wanted a new 40 gallon hot water heater installed. I was surprised but very happy when he gave me a quote on the purchase, installation and haul away of my old water heater over the phone.
He told me Jesse would be at my house by 9:00 AM this morning. And he was. They installed the new water heater, answered any questions my husband and I had, and loaded up the old one. Jesse and his partner were pleasant, professional and left my side yard (where the water heater was located) cleaner than when they got here. I paid not a penny more than the original quote (no pressure to ‘upgrade’ and no hidden costs). All in about an hour. WOW!
I told Jesse that I would have more things I would need help on and he said to just give them a call and they would be happy to help. And I believed him. So pleasant. I highly recommend Olson Plumbing.
2/16/2015
We had a leak in the water heater, Bob was the very first to call, and Santos came out and repair work was done that same day in a timely manner. Unfortunately, there was no hot water later that evening. We tried lighting the pilot light ourselves, to no avail.
Bob was able to come out next morning and it was determined that a part needed to be ordered, which would be delivered 2 day mail, but as this landed on a Saturday, we needed to wait until Monday as the weekend rate was more than we wanted to spend.
Monday came, and Bob showed up when he said he would, and now we are back to normal. We appreciated the quality of service and level of professionalism shown by both Bob and Santos, and would highly recommend them to anyone, and we will definitely call them again for any plumbing needs we might have in the future.
3/30/2015
The water heater required a difficult to get part that caused the appointment to be rescheduled a few times. The company was courteous and professional throughout.
Once the part was available, the work was completed quickly and at the appointed time. I will certainly use them again.
1/14/2015
More Water Heater Information
We provide professional plumbing services to the following communities:
Corona CA
Riverside CA
Norco CA
Eastvale CA
Ontario CA
Jurupa Valley CA
Anaheim CA
Our Plumbing Services
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RT Olson Plumbing. Five-star rated plumbers in Corona, Riverside, Norco, Eastvale, Ontario, Jurupa Valley, and Anaheim CA.
Licensed, bonded, insured. CA Lic #997337.
2 Locations
Corona CA Office
RT Olson Plumbing
9064 Pulsar Court, Suite I
Corona, CA 92883
(951) 344-5596
Anaheim CA Office
RT Olson Plumbing
8175 E. Kaiser, Suite 207
Anaheim CA 92808
(714) 886-6133
