Water Heater Repair in Vancouver WA
$1,500 Rebate on Heat Pump Water Heaters
Clark Public Utilities customers can get a $1,500 rebate on a qualifying heat pump water heater that replaces an electric tank water heater. Ask us whether your home qualifies. See rebate details.
No hot water, a leaking tank or a pilot that won't stay lit? Tri-Tech Heating, Inc. repairs gas, electric, tankless and heat pump water heaters across Vancouver, Camas, Salmon Creek and Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania Counties and the Portland metro area.
Short answer: We repair gas, electric, tankless and heat pump water heaters. If yours is past repairing, see water heater installation and replacement. Call (360) 891-2002 to schedule service.
Smell gas? Leave first
If you smell gas (a rotten-egg or sulfur odor) near your water heater, don't try to relight it or flip any switches. Leave the house right away, then call 911 and NW Natural's 24-hour emergency line at 800-882-3377. If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get everyone outside and call 911.
If water is actively flooding
Shut off the water supply to the unit and kill its power at the breaker, then call us. Do not wait to see whether it stops.
Water heater repair
Common problems we fix:
- No hot water, or it runs out fast. Often a pilot, thermocouple, gas valve or burner problem on a tank, or an ignition or flow issue on a tankless unit. On an electric unit, an element or thermostat.
- Hot then cold mid-shower. Undersized for the household, a failed dip tube, or on a tankless unit a flow or scaling issue.
- Pilot won't light or stay lit. Usually a dirty or failing thermocouple or a clogged pilot assembly.
- Water too hot or not hot enough. A thermostat or gas control valve that needs adjusting or replacing.
- Popping, rumbling or banging. Sediment built up in the bottom of the tank.
- Rusty or smelly hot water. Often a worn anode rod, the part that protects the tank from corrosion.
- Leaks. A leaking valve or fitting can often be repaired. A leak from the tank itself can't, and the water heater needs replacing.
- Tankless error codes. Scale buildup, venting or ignition problems on Rinnai and other tankless models.
Tankless water heater repair in Vancouver WA
Tankless units fail differently from tanks. Most calls come down to scale buildup, a venting fault or an ignition problem, and the unit usually shows an error code. We service Rinnai and other tankless models. See tankless water heaters.
Water heater flush and maintenance
Sediment is behind most rumbling, popping and running-out-early complaints. A tank with years of sediment is worth flushing before you conclude it is finished. Tankless units need a yearly flush to clear mineral buildup.
Repair or replace?
Most tank water heaters last 8 to 12 years. Replacement usually makes more sense than repair when:
- The tank itself is leaking
- The water heater is 10 years old or more and needs a major repair
- You're seeing rust in the hot water or repeated breakdowns
- You want more hot water, lower bills or a smaller footprint
We'll tell you honestly whether a repair will hold up or whether replacing it is the better value.
If replacement is the better value, see water heater installation and replacement.
Why Tri-Tech Heating, Inc.
- Water heater repair for gas, electric, tankless and heat pump models
- Rinnai tankless installation and yearly flushing
- Clark Public Utilities participating contractor for heat pump water heaters
- 2-year labor warranty on new installations, and 1-year labor warranty on repairs
- We register your new equipment for the full manufacturer warranty
- Financing through Synchrony for qualified buyers (apply online)
- Family-owned, serving Vancouver, Camas, Salmon Creek and Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania Counties and the Portland metro area
Our office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, and Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm, and a call to (360) 891-2002 during those hours reaches a person. The office is closed on Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. After hours and on holidays, call the same number and a live person from our answering service will take your information. They'll text our on-call technician right away, or, if you'd rather wait, pass your request to our office and we'll respond by 9:00am the next business day. Licensed HVAC #TRITEHI952LL, CCB #161426.
“Josh & Braden did a fantastic job installing our new heat pump water heater and Heat pump. They even painted the walls where the old equipment was located. I highly recommend Tri-Tech.”
Lauren W.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a water heater last?
Most tank water heaters last 8 to 12 years. Tankless water heaters can last up to 20 years with a yearly flush. Water quality, usage and maintenance all affect how long yours lasts.
Should I repair or replace my water heater?
If the tank itself is leaking, it needs replacing. If the water heater is 10 years old or more and needs a major repair, replacement is usually the better value. Problems like a pilot that won't stay lit, a bad thermocouple or a faulty gas valve can usually be repaired.
Do you work on electric water heaters?
Yes. We repair gas, electric, tankless and heat pump water heaters. If you're replacing an electric tank, a heat pump water heater may qualify for a $1,500 Clark Public Utilities rebate.
Can you flush my tank?
Yes, and on a tank with years of sediment it is worth doing before concluding the unit is finished.
Related services
Water heaters rarely stand alone.
- Water heater installation and replacement — tank, tankless and heat pump water heaters, and how to choose
- Gas piping — a tankless unit often needs more gas supply than the old tank did
- Venting — including the orphaned water heater problem after a furnace swap
Not sure which you need? See all services, or call (360) 891-2002.