Professional Water Heater Services in Houston
Let’s be honest, your water heater is one of those appliances you never really think about – until it stops working. And it always happens at the most inconvenient time, of course. So, whether you’re confronted with an icy shower, strange noises from the tank, odd-smelling hot water, or just considering an upgrade to a more energy-efficient model, Nick’s Plumbing has you covered with our fast, dependable water heater services across Houston.
Since 1979, Nick’s Plumbing has been Houston’s trusted name for professional water heater services, from regular maintenance to repairs and expert water heater installations of high-quality units from brands like Navien, Rinnai, Bradford White, and AO Smith. Our fully trained and licensed plumbing technicians specialize in all facets of water heater services, ensuring you always have reliable hot water when it’s most needed.
Nick's Plumbing Water Heater Services in Houston
Installation, Repair and Maintenance of Electric Water Heaters in Houston When Should I Replace My Electric Water Heater? Your electric water heater has an expected lifespan of between…
High Quality Gas Water Heaters in Houston It’s reliable, always delivers on time with the turn on a knob, and rarely takes a day off. It’s your gas…
Nick’s Plumbing offers energy-efficient tankless water heaters that never run out of hot water and can provide hot water the instant you turn on your tap. Installing a new tankless water heater from Nick’s can save you money by using less energy and less water daily!
Water Heater Installation Services in Houston, TX It’s cleaned your dirty dishes day in and day out, washed your clothing, warmed your bath and shower water without a…
Professional Water Heater Maintenance in Houston How important is water heater maintenance in Houston? Maintaining your water heater is a very simple procedure and leaves no mess or…
Professional Water Heater Repair in Houston Your water heater is the most used plumbing appliance in your home, as it operates around the clock, maintaining the temperature of…
Professional Water Heater Replacement in Houston Every water heater is eventually going to fail and need to be replaced. At some point, every homeowner is going to need…
What are Some Signs I Need to Repair or Replace My Water Heater?
When homeowners find themselves trying to diagnose water heater issues that can no longer be ignored, regardless of how minor they may seem, it’s essential to get the opinion of an experienced plumbing technician.
Fortunately, over the generations of their existence, water heaters have uncannily developed the ability to communicate with humans by exhibiting symptoms that can potentially help your plumbing expert diagnose the issue with your unit.
Is It Taking Longer to Get Hot Water at Faucets and Showerheads?
Water heaters that haven’t been maintained regularly will develop a layer of sediment, mostly calcium residue – in the form of tiny stones –as a byproduct of heating hard water. This sediment settles to the bottom of their tanks, displacing the water in the tank and keeping it away from heating elements, particularly in gas-fired units.
In electric water heaters, sediment can collect on the heating elements themselves, creating yet another barrier between the heat and your water. In either case, the result is the same. It takes longer to heat the water in the tank, increasing the time it takes for hot water to reach your faucet.
Does Your Water Heater Make “Thumping” or “Grinding” Noises You’ve Never Heard Before?
So, do you remember that layer of sediment we discussed above that’s impeding the heating of the water in your heater tank? Well, it also tends to shift and move around when water leaves through the bottom of the tank and is then refilled from the top. This refilling process circulates the sediment around the tank, usually creating an unpleasant mix of these thumping, grinding, and banging noises.
Is Your Water Simply “Not as Hot” As It Used to Be?
Heating elements in older electric water heaters lose their ability over time to generate sufficient energy to heat the water as hot as a new element can. Gas-powered water heaters have burner assemblies at the tank’s base that combust gas to generate heat. Gas burners that aren’t adequately maintained become less effective over time due to carbon buildup, insufficient airflow, and our old friend, sediment buildup. Safe to say, as these components age, and if regular water heater maintenance is ignored, these parts will likely face an early demise.
Finding Water in the Drain Pan of Your Water Heater
Finding a significant amount of water in your water heater’s drain pan is an absolute red flag. While small amounts from condensation are normal, they should never cause the pan to overflow or even come close. The natural wear on your water heater’s tank is a more serious concern. Since it’s a large metal container holding water, corrosion will eventually happen. Tanks are coated with a protective glass layer to prevent this, but the constant sediment buildup can create cracks, allowing water to reach the metal. Once that barrier is compromised, it’s only a matter of time before you have a serious leak on your hands.
What Are My Options When Installing a New Water Heater?
Replacing a water heater not long ago meant swapping out one large tank for another. Today, technological advancements offer more energy-efficient options, from tankless models that cut energy costs to condensing units that recycle exhaust heat and heat pump systems that draw warmth from the air. With so many choices, not every water heater fits every home. That’s where Nick’s Plumbing comes in—our expert technicians help you explore the best options and find the perfect fit for your family’s needs.
Tank-Type Water Heaters
Despite being almost 100 years old, the original residential tank-type water heater design is still the most popular model sold today. With a useful life expectancy of between 8 and 12 years, you may have an older, inefficient water heater in your attic or garage that costs you money in increased monthly energy bills and would greatly benefit your entire home by being upgraded.
Many innovations have enhanced the performance of both electric and gas-powered tank-type water heaters. Here is a selection of some improvements over the decades.
- Condensing Technology: A condensing water heater differs from a standard unit in that it captures hot exhaust gases produced during combustion that are typically vented outdoors. That trapped energy is then used to heat your water by cooling the exhaust gases, extracting additional heat from the byproduct of heating.
- Improved Insulation: Modern water heaters use more efficient types of insulation to minimize heat loss and energy waste.
- Automatic Limescale Elimination: Some higher-end tank-type water heater models use a specially designed dip tube that increases the water’s movement to help dislodge sediment and keep it from settling at the bottom of the tank.
- Wi-Fi Connectivity, Remote Monitoring, and Trouble Notifications: The introduction of smart technology into water heaters has opened up an entire world of possibilities. Wi-Fi connectivity and brand-associated apps allow you to monitor your water heater’s performance, adjust the water temperature, and get instant alerts when leaks or other problems occur.
Tankless Water Heaters
Despite their growing popularity, tankless water heaters still don’t get the recognition they deserve. Almost a standard in Europe for decades, these systems eliminate the need for a bulky tank that constantly reheats water, reducing energy waste. Instead, they provide hot water on demand, improving efficiency and lowering utility costs. Homeowners benefit from instant hot water, a more compact design, and long-term energy savings, making tankless systems a smart upgrade for modern households.
- Energy Efficiency: Tankless water heaters can save you as much as 35% on energy costs compared to their tank-type predecessors. They also reduce water usage, as their on-demand method of hot water delivery eliminates the hundreds of gallons that are wasted every year just waiting for the water to get hot.
- Longer Life Expectancy: The average lifespan of a tankless water heater is between 15 and 20 years, provided proper maintenance and needed repairs have been attended to during its service.
- Takes Up Less Space: Compared to traditional tank-type water heaters, tankless units take up 85% less space, and some units can be mounted outdoors for even more room inside the home.
Heat Pump Water Heaters
These highly efficient appliances use a small amount of electricity to extract heat from the outdoor air and direct it into the water heater tank—or the heater element in a tankless heat pump unit. The concept behind heat pump water heater technology is to heat water by transferring already existing heat rather than generating it with gas combustion or high-powered electric units. As the most efficient yet least commonly installed water heater option, heat pump units offer a series of benefits that differ from those of traditional units.
- Extremely Energy Efficient: Thanks to the heat pump’s unique heat transfer process, heat pump water heaters can be as much as 2 to 3 times more efficient than a standard gas or electric unit.
- Hybrid Operation: Heat pump water heaters face a challenge when outdoor temperatures drop, and there is less heat for them to extract. When the weather is freezing, or there is a period of unusually high hot water demand, the unit will have a supplemental electric heating element as a backup.
Regular Professional Maintenance is the Key to Trouble-Free Water Heating!
Our water heaters are usually tucked away in an attic, a garage, or a utility closet, rarely in our direct line of sight. As a result, we tend to think about them less, almost forgetting they exist—until the morning when there’s no hot water!
Regular maintenance will not only extend the life of your water heater by draining and flushing out any sediment build-up, but it will also allow our technicians to discover potential problems early before they can lead to an expensive emergency repair and improve energy efficiency. It will ensure that the hot water you need will be there whenever you open the tap.
Get Your Water Heater Maintenance Schedule On Point With Nick’s Smart VIP Monitoring & Maintenance Program!
Nick’s Plumbing offers our customers membership in our Smart VIP Monitoring and Maintenance Program, a comprehensive plan that protects your plumbing, water heater, and HVAC system. Here are a few benefits your Smart VIP Membership will bring you.
- Priority Service & Unlimited Free Visits: Never pay a trip charge again, no matter how often we visit your home. Priority service moves the Smart VIP member to the front of the line when scheduling your appointment.
- Regular Maintenance Visits: Enjoy peace of mind with two annual HVAC maintenance and tune-up visits and one yearly plumbing inspection. The program includes one free drain and sewer line video camera inspection, but the customer must request it.
- $150 Nick’s Cash Sign-Up Bonus: Earn valuable “Nick’s Cash” that can be used to pay for any Nick’s Plumbing or Nick’s Air Conditioning services. Your account starts with a $150 balance (usable after 30 days), and every month, another $10 is automatically deposited into your account.
Why Should You Rely on Nick’s Plumbing’s Water Heater Services in Houston?
Simply put, Nick’s Plumbing has been Houston’s leader in water heater services for forty-five years because we have the know-how to get your hot water flowing again. Whether it’s a corroded anode rod, a faulty thermocouple, or a pilot light that won’t stay lit, trust Nick’s Plumbing to discover the problem and remediate it fast.
Nick’s offers a wide variety of water heaters in all flavors, from gas and electric to heat pump units from top-of-the-line manufacturers like Rinnai, Navien, Bradford White, and AO Smith. In most cases, Nick’s can replace your water heater the same day, restoring hot water to your home almost immediately.
Contact Nick’s Plumbing to Arrange Your Next Water Heater Maintenance, Repair, or Replacement Call
When you wake up to hot water issues, you need expert help to get things back to warm and normal. Our licensed and experienced plumbing technicians are standing by to help put an end to cold showers. Call Nick’s Plumbing the next time your tank-type, tankless, or heat pump water heater requires service.
