Water Heater Repair · Same-Day Service

Water Heater Repair in San Francisco & the Peninsula

No hot water, not enough of it, strange noises, or a puddle under the tank? Most water heater problems can be repaired the same day — often for far less than a replacement. We diagnose it honestly and tell you when a repair makes sense and when it doesn’t.

Licensed & Insured

Fully licensed, bonded and insured. Every plumber is background-checked and drug-tested.

24/7 Emergency Service

Burst pipe at 2am? We answer the phone and we show up — typically within 45 minutes.

40+ Years Experience

Family-owned and serving the Bay Area since 1985. We've seen it all and fixed it all.

Upfront Pricing

Free estimates, no hidden fees, no upcharges. And we'll beat any written bid*.

Signs your water heater needs repair

No hot water, or it runs out much faster than it used to
Water is lukewarm no matter how the thermostat is set
Rumbling, popping or banging from the tank
Rusty or discolored hot water
Water pooling around the base of the unit
The pilot light won't stay lit, or the unit keeps cycling off

Repair or replace?

We'll tell you straight — even when the answer is 'repair it.'

A thermostat, heating element, thermocouple, gas valve, anode rod or relief valve can each be replaced in an hour or two. If your heater is under about ten years old and the tank itself isn’t leaking, a repair is usually the smart money.

If the tank is leaking or the unit is past its life, we’ll show you why and quote a replacement — but we won’t sell you a new heater you don’t need.

How it works

Water Heater Repair, step by step

No surprises: you know what’s wrong, what it costs and what we’re doing before we start.

Diagnose

We test the thermostat, elements or burner, gas supply, venting and relief valve to find the actual fault.

Quote upfront

You get a flat repair price before any work, and an honest comparison to replacement if that’s relevant.

Repair same day

Our trucks carry common parts for the major brands, so most repairs finish in one visit.

Test & verify

We confirm temperature, pressure and safe operation before we leave.

Your options

Water heater repairs we handle

We recommend the least invasive fix that will actually last — and we explain why.

Thermostats & Elements

No hot water or lukewarm water on electric units is usually a failed element or thermostat.

Pilot, Thermocouple & Gas Valve

Gas units that won't stay lit or cycle off need burner assembly, thermocouple or gas valve service.

Leaks & Valves

Leaking fittings, drain valves and temperature-pressure relief valves replaced; tank leaks assessed honestly.

Flush & Anode Service

Sediment flush and anode rod replacement to quiet a noisy tank and extend its life.

Need Water Heater Repair today? We're 45 minutes away.

24/7 emergency service across San Francisco and the north Peninsula. Free camera-verified quotes, upfront pricing, and we’ll beat any written bid*.

Why Economy Plumbing

Why homeowners call us for water heater repair

Same-day repairs

We stock common parts for the major brands and typically arrive within 45 minutes.

Honest repair-vs-replace advice

We show you the diagnosis and let the numbers decide — no pressure either way.

Flat-rate pricing

Quoted before the work starts. No hidden fees, no upcharges.

FAQ

Water Heater Repair questions, answered

How much does water heater repair cost?

It depends on the part: thermocouples and elements are inexpensive; gas valves cost more. Every repair is quoted flat-rate before we start.

How long should a water heater last?

Tank heaters typically last 8–12 years; tankless units 15–20 with maintenance. Age is one factor we weigh when advising repair versus replacement.

Is a leaking water heater an emergency?

A leak from a fitting or valve is repairable and not urgent unless it’s flooding. A leak from the tank itself means the tank has failed — shut off the water supply and call us; that’s a replacement.

Can you repair my brand?

We service all major brands, including Bradford White, Rheem, A.O. Smith, Rinnai, Navien and Noritz.

Do you offer 24/7 water heater service?

Yes. No hot water is an emergency in a household, and we answer around the clock.

5-Star Reviews

Don't Just Take Our Word For It

Here’s what Bay Area homeowners and businesses say about working with Economy Plumbing.

Chris was prompt, friendly, helpful, and cleaned up after himself. He did a fine job on the repairs and I was still smiling after I wrote the check. Pretty rare for me! I had called a number of places on Yelp and Economy Plumbing was the first to get back to me. Kudos all around!

H.G.Verified Customer

I called in for a Kitchen Clog and I wanted to get this issue FIXED ASAP so I can watch my Giants! I spoke with the representative there. I believe her name was Michelle. She was really nice, and helpful and was able to get someone out to my office in less than an hour. When the technician came — Albert was so prompt and really accommodating. Since I work in the servicing industry, I appreciated the fact that he was courteous and willing to explain things to me. I have no experience in plumbing so he was able give me some pointers to prevent this issue from happening again in the future. I definitely recommend Economy plumbing!

Aaron G.Verified Customer

Joe came out at 10pm for an urgent dishwasher leak, I had airbnb’d my unit and a quick response was crucial. He’s very polite and friendly and got the job done right. I called one other place and they told me they could do it tomorrow and after I told them I needed somebody tonight they said they would charge me an “emergency” fee just for coming out since it was late. Economy plumbing was the first one listed on google’s preferred vendors and rightfully so thanks to Joe!

Omid K.Verified Customer

Highest ratings to Economy plumbing. Spencer was exacting, proactive, factual and comforting. He and Emanual took care with every aspect on assessing multiple issues causing drain backup and leakage in my kitchen and bath. They worked efficiently to get everything repaired including replacement of my entire kitchen sink pipes that were busted and the main drain to the basement: It wasn’t cheap, But after comparing it to the estimated of 2 other companies -it was very fair. I’m super happy with the work and their professionalism. Would definitely use again- these guys are my new plumbers!

Finny BVerified Customer

Related services

Also from Economy Plumbing

Water Heater Installation

Tank water heaters replaced and installed to code.

Learn More →

Tankless Water Heater Repair

Error codes, ignition faults and scale build-up fixed.

Learn More →

General Plumbing

Repairs, fixtures, leaks and everything in between.

Learn More →

Free Estimates

Get a Free Water Heater Repair Quote

Tell us what’s going on and we’ll get back to you fast — usually within the hour during business hours. For emergencies, don’t wait on a form: call us, day or night.

Full Name

Phone

What do you need help with?

Tell us what's going on