Gas tanks
Pilot assembly, thermocouple, gas control valve, burner and flue.
Gas repair guideAurora, CO water heater help
No hot water? Leaking tank? Call now and get connected with a local Aurora water heater pro for repair, replacement or a new install.
Aurora Heater Fixer is a referral service, not a repair company. Calls are connected to independent local providers, who set their own prices and are responsible for their own work and licensing.
The direct answer
Call a local water heater technician, describe what you see, and let them decide between a repair and a replacement.
Most failures trace back to a short list of parts: the pilot, thermocouple or gas control on a gas tank, the heating elements or thermostats on an electric tank, and the sensors and heat exchanger on a tankless unit. A trained technician can narrow it down quickly once the unit is in front of them.
If water is spreading, act before you dial
Close the cold water valve above the tank, turn the power off at the breaker or set the gas control to off, and keep people away from standing water near outlets. That one minute of prep can save a floor, and our guide to emergency water heater services covers the full shut-off routine.
Aurora homes tuck water heaters into garages, basements and utility closets, and Colorado winters make a cold shower more than an inconvenience. The right fix depends on the age of the unit, the fuel it burns and how much damage is already done. Everything below walks through the signs, the causes, the visit and the cost factors, with a direct path to each service.
Pilot assembly, thermocouple, gas control valve, burner and flue.
Gas repair guideUpper and lower heating elements, thermostats and the high-limit reset.
Electric repair guideFlow sensor, heat exchanger, inlet filter and venting.
Tankless repair guideWater heater services
Pick the closest match, or just call and describe the problem. Not sure which card fits? Start with our water heater repair services in Aurora overview, then follow any card below to a full guide for that service.
A burst tank, no hot water at all, a gas smell or water spreading across the floor? Emergency calls are for exactly this. Describe what is happening, and you will be told what to shut off while you wait for the technician.
Smell gas? Leave the building first, then call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
Pilot lights that will not stay lit, worn thermocouples, gas control valves, burner trouble and venting faults on standard gas tanks.
Gas repair ElectricDead heating elements, failed thermostats, tripped high-limit switches and lukewarm water from electric tanks.
Electric repair TanklessError codes, scale in the heat exchanger, flow sensor faults, clogged filters and hot water that cuts out mid-shower.
Tankless repair LeaksDrips at the relief valve, fittings and drain valve can be fixed. A leak through the tank body usually means replacement.
Leak repairSwap a worn-out tank, move to tankless, or step up to a hybrid heat pump unit. Each type has its own page with sizing, venting and planning notes.
Start with the full repair overview, then go to the part, the boiler or the yearly tune-up that matches your home.
Symptom checker
Tap a symptom to see the likely cause and the service that fixes it. Each card opens the page that covers it in full.
The pilot is out, the thermocouple has worn, or the gas control valve has failed.
Gas repair Book a visitA tripped breaker, burned-out element or faulty thermostat is the usual cause.
Electric repair Plan aheadOne failed element or a drifting thermostat leaves the tank half-working.
Thermostat and elements Plan aheadSediment, a broken dip tube, or a tank that is simply too small for the household.
Repair or replace UrgentCould be a fitting, the drain valve or the tank itself. Shut off the water first.
Leak repair Book a visitThe relief valve is releasing pressure or heat, which needs a technician to trace.
Relief valve leaks Plan aheadSediment on the tank floor traps steam bubbles, and the tank works harder than it should.
Tank repair UrgentLeave the building, then call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
Emergency steps Book a visitScale, a clogged filter or a flow sensor fault is common on tankless units.
Tankless repairIn-depth guide
A tank water heater has few moving parts and a lot of water, so most problems show up in a predictable way.
Age is the biggest factor. A tank sits full of water for years, and the steel liner slowly gives way to corrosion once the anode rod that protects it is used up. Sediment from the water settles on the bottom, insulates the water from the burner or lower element, and makes the unit work harder for less heat.
Specific parts fail too. On a gas water heater, a worn thermocouple or a dirty pilot assembly is the classic reason the flame will not stay lit, and a blocked flue can shut the unit down for safety. On an electric water heater, a burned-out element or a faulty thermostat leaves you with lukewarm or cold water. A tankless water heater fails differently: scale builds up inside the heat exchanger, a filter clogs or a flow sensor stops reading, and the unit throws an error code or cuts out mid-shower.
Water itself causes the rest. Loose fittings, a weeping drain valve, or a relief valve releasing pressure all show up as drips, which is where water heater leak repair comes in.
Warning
If you smell gas, do not touch switches or try to relight anything. Leave the building and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
A good diagnosis starts with questions: what fuel, how old, what changed, and what you can hear or smell. Then the technician checks the basics in order. On a gas unit that means the gas supply, pilot, thermocouple and venting. On an electric unit it means the breaker, power at the terminals and a meter test of each element and thermostat. Both get a look at the relief valve, the fittings, the base of the tank and the water temperature at the tap.
The goal is to separate a cheap part from a failing tank. A bad element is a quick fix. Rust at the base of the tank, or water weeping through the outer jacket, is not.
Pro tip
Take a phone photo of the label on the tank before you call. Brand, model, serial number, fuel type and capacity are printed there, and they tell the technician which parts to bring.
Repair makes sense when the tank itself is sound and the failed part is affordable, especially on a younger unit. Replacement makes sense when the tank body leaks, the unit is well past a decade old, rust shows in the hot water, or repairs keep stacking up. Replacing is also the moment to ask whether another type fits your home better.
A standard tank water heater replacement is the simplest swap and keeps the same footprint.
A tankless water heater installation saves floor space and heats on demand, but it may need a larger gas line and new venting.
A hybrid heat pump water heater uses much less electricity than a standard electric tank, but it needs clear air space and a condensate drain.
A pro can match the choice to your fuel, your space and your hot water habits.
Before leaving, the technician should restore power or gas, fire the unit up and confirm it reaches temperature. They check the relief valve, look at every connection for leaks and confirm the vent is drawing correctly on a gas unit. Many households keep the thermostat near 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which balances comfort, energy use and scald risk.
Ask what failed, why it failed and whether anything else is close behind. Simple upkeep helps too, and a yearly water heater maintenance and tune-up is the easy way to keep it going: flush a tank periodically to clear sediment, test the relief valve on the schedule the manufacturer recommends, and have the anode rod checked.
Some Aurora homes heat with a hot water boiler instead of, or alongside, a standard tank. A boiler is a different system with its own controls, pump and pressure parts, so mention it on the call. The pro will tell you whether they handle hot water boiler repair or can point you toward a specialist.
How a visit works
Four steps, and no surprises along the way.
Tell the pro what the unit is doing and whether anything is leaking. A clear description speeds up everything that follows.
Your call goes to a local provider who handles water heaters in Aurora. Share the fuel type and rough age if you know them.
The technician inspects the unit, explains what failed and states the price before starting. Ask questions until it makes sense.
The repair or install is finished, the unit is tested for heat and leaks, and the old parts or tank are dealt with.
Costs of waiting
Waiting almost always costs more, and sometimes it becomes a safety problem.
A drip at a fitting is a cheap fix today and a ruined floor next month. Once a tank body starts to weep, the question is no longer whether it fails but where the water ends up.
Garages and basements hide leaks until they are large. Drywall, flooring, boxes and stored tools soak up water, and damp materials can grow mold quickly. A unit running on a worn burner or a scaled-up element also burns more energy for less hot water, so you pay for the problem every month.
In a Colorado winter, no hot water is a daily problem, and a gas unit with a venting fault is a safety issue, not just an inconvenience. If you have already spotted water, start with the leak repair guide and shut off the supply.
Warning
Do not wade into standing water near a water heater or outlets. If the floor is flooded and the power is still on, stay out and call for help.
Cost factors
Prices vary too much from home to home to quote here, so this table shows what moves the number and what to ask.
Pro tip
Get the diagnosis, the scope and the price in writing before work starts, and ask what is and is not included.
| Factor | Why it changes the price | Ask this |
|---|---|---|
| Repair or replacement | A small part costs far less than a new unit and its installation. | Is the tank itself still sound? |
| Fuel type | Gas units need venting and gas connections, while electric units need the right circuit. | Does my current setup support this model? |
| Size and type | Larger tanks, tankless and hybrid units cost more than a standard tank. | What size fits my household? |
| Install conditions | Tight closets, long vent runs and old shutoffs add labor. | Will anything need an upgrade? |
| Permits and code | Replacements commonly need a permit and an inspection. | Who pulls the permit? |
| Timing | Emergency and after-hours calls can be priced differently. | Is there a different rate right now? |
| Warranty and parts | Longer warranties and better parts raise the upfront cost. | What does the warranty cover, and who honors it? |
Service areas
Calls cover Aurora, and each neighborhood below has its own page with details that fit the local homes. See the full water heater service area for everything we cover.
Hoffman Heights is an established northwest Aurora neighborhood, and many of its homes are older than the tanks inside them. Aging units, closet and basement installs and worn fittings make repair or replace the main question. See water heater repair in Hoffman Heights for what to check.
Hoffman Heights pageMeadow Hills is a mature Aurora neighborhood where a home may be on its second or third water heater. Finished basements make leaks costly, so a weeping tank deserves a fast call. The Meadow Hills water heater page covers repair, replacement and what to ask a pro.
Meadow Hills pageSaddle Rock sits in southeast Aurora, where newer homes mean many original tanks are reaching the end of their working life. Larger households also raise the question of a tankless or hybrid upgrade. Read about water heater service in Saddle Rock before you decide.
Saddle Rock pageTallyn's Reach is another southeast Aurora community of newer, often larger homes. High hot water demand and longer pipe runs make sizing important, whether you stay with a tank or step up. The Tallyn's Reach water heater page explains what to look for.
Tallyn's Reach pageBeyond these four neighborhoods, we have a page for each ZIP code we serve most actively, from 80010 to 80047. Find yours to see the neighborhoods it covers, the services available and the nearby areas.
All 17 ZIP areasCalls cover all of Aurora. Tell us where you are when you call.
Call (720) 731-0548Pages for these cities are coming soon. If you live outside Aurora, call and ask whether a local provider covers your address.
How it works
Short answer: you call, and we connect you with a local provider.
Aurora Heater Fixer is a referral service, not a repair company. When you call, we ask a few questions about your water heater and connect you with an independent local provider who handles the job. The provider diagnoses the problem, quotes the price, does the work and stands behind it. We may receive a fee from providers for calls we send, and you do not pay Aurora Heater Fixer anything.
Licenses, insurance and warranties belong to the individual provider, so confirm each one on the call.
Before you call
A few details make the call faster and the diagnosis more accurate.
Ready?
Call and describe what you see
(720) 731-0548You do not need every detail to call. Share what you know.
Call nowCommon questions
Straight answers to the questions that come up most before a repair or replacement.
Still have a question?
Ask on the call
(720) 731-0548Describe your water heater and what it is doing.
Call nowOn a gas tank, the pilot is often out or the thermocouple has failed. On an electric tank, a tripped breaker, a failed element or a bad thermostat is common. Tankless units usually show an error code. Check the breaker or pilot first, then call if hot water does not return.
A tank unit often lasts around a decade, sometimes longer with good upkeep. Tankless units commonly last longer than tanks. Age, water quality and maintenance all matter, so the date code on the label and the condition of the unit are better guides than one number.
Repair when the tank is sound and the failed part is affordable. Replace when the tank leaks, the unit is old, rust appears in the hot water or repairs keep piling up. A pro can compare both options and explain the trade-off in plain terms.
Treat a steady leak as urgent. Shut off the cold water supply and the power or gas, then call. A slow drip from a fitting is less severe but still worth a prompt visit, because leaks rarely fix themselves and the damage tends to grow.
Many households use about 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which limits scald risk while still delivering hot water. Higher settings raise both the scalding danger and the energy use. Homes with young children or older adults should be especially careful.
Many gas tanks print relighting steps on the label, and following them is reasonable if you smell no gas. If you smell gas, leave the building and call your gas utility. If the pilot will not stay lit, a part has probably failed and it needs a technician.
A tank stores a set volume of hot water and keeps it warm. A tankless unit heats water as it flows, so it takes less space and never runs out of stored water, but it needs the right gas supply, venting or electrical capacity, plus regular descaling.
A hybrid, or heat pump, water heater pulls heat from the surrounding air to warm the tank, with electric elements as backup. It uses less electricity than a standard electric tank, but it needs space, airflow and a condensate drain.
Replacements commonly require a permit and sometimes an inspection, especially for gas units and changes to venting. The provider normally handles it. Ask who pulls the permit before work begins, and confirm the requirements for your address with the city.
Boilers are a separate system, so tell the pro on the call. Some providers service both, and others will say honestly when a boiler needs a specialist. Having the make and the symptoms ready makes that conversation faster.
Water heater trouble in Aurora?
No hot water, a leaking tank or a unit that has had its day? One call is the fastest way to find out what you need.
(720) 731-0548