Plumbing Water Heater Repair in South Carolina
Water heater repair covers a wide range of failures — from a $25 thermocouple that takes 30 minutes to a control valve or heat exchanger that takes longer. Our plumbers diagnose to the component level rather than recommending replacement as the default. A 5-year-old Rheem with a bad element or a Navien tankless throwing an ignition error is almost always worth repairing; the same tank at 13 years old with a rusted-through bottom is usually worth replacing.
Trucks stock the common parts for the major brands: upper and lower heating elements and thermostats for electric tanks, thermocouples, thermopiles, gas control valves, and pilot assemblies for gas tanks, and igniters, flame sensors, and flow sensors for Navien and Rinnai tankless units. The 96% first-call fix rate applies to water heaters too — most no-hot-water calls are diagnosed and resolved in the same South Carolina visit.
Every water heater repair includes a full operational check after the fix: temperature verified at the tap, the T&P relief valve tested, the burner or elements confirmed cycling correctly, and — on tank units — a sediment flush to protect the parts we just replaced. If you've been living with lukewarm water or a pilot that won't stay lit, the post-repair check is often a noticeable improvement on its own.
Different job? Start on the right page:
- Water Heater Replacement — if the tank itself is leaking or the unit is past 10–12 years.
- Boiler Repair — if the failing unit heats radiators or baseboards, not tap water.
What tells us a home needs water heater repair
No hot water at all
A dead pilot, tripped thermostat, or failed element leaves the tank cold. Fix is usually a thermocouple, reset, or element swap — often $89–$189 in parts and under an hour of labor on a South Carolina call.
Water warm but never hot
A failed upper element or thermostat, or a burner running low, leaves the water lukewarm. Diagnosis is free in the South Carolina service call; the element or thermostat swap is a same-visit fix.
Tankless throwing an error code
Navien and Rinnai units flash a code for ignition, flow, or scale faults. We read the code, descale or replace the sensor, and clear it during the South Carolina visit.
Popping or rumbling tank
Sediment on the tank bottom rumbles and insulates the burner, wasting fuel. A flush during the South Carolina visit restores efficiency and quiets it.
Pilot won't stay lit
A failing thermocouple or dirty pilot assembly drops the flame seconds after you light it. We carry both on the truck and isolate the cause at your South Carolina home.
Common causes & what we fix
Sediment buildup
Hard-water minerals settle in the tank, insulate the burner or lower element, and force it to overheat — the most common cause of a failed element or a noisy tank we see in South Carolina. A flush prevents most of these calls.
Thermocouple or thermopile age
The flame-sensing components on a gas tank weaken over 5–8 years until the gas valve won't stay open. A routine South Carolina fix that restores a pilot that won't stay lit.
Element or thermostat failure
Electric tank elements burn out and thermostats drift out of calibration around 6–10 years. A $150–$250 element-and-thermostat swap extends the tank another several years, and it's one of the most common South Carolina repairs.
Scale in a tankless heat exchanger
Hard water scales the tankless heat exchanger, dropping output and throwing error codes. A descaling flush restores it; we carry the kit on every South Carolina truck.
How a visit works
- Call or schedule online. Pick a 2-hour window for water heater repair in South Carolina, by phone or online. Within five minutes you get a confirmation carrying the assigned tech's name and photo.
- We diagnose on-site. On arrival we diagnose the water heater repair on-site — free for most repairs, $39 on minor service calls (waived if you proceed). You see the issue and the fix before we start.
- Flat-rate quote. Before work begins, the water heater repair price is fixed in writing and holds for 30 days; no hourly creep, no surprise add-ons.
- Same-visit fix. Most water heater repair work finishes the same visit: our trucks carry the common valves, fittings, cartridges, and fixtures, so a second trip is rare.
The real cost of water heater repair in South Carolina
Water Heater Repair in South Carolina starts at from $189, every water heater repair quote is flat-rate and presented in writing before work begins — no surprise add-ons, no hourly creep. Seniors (65+) and military save 10% on labor, and financing covers projects over $1,500 at 0% APR for 12 months, with no prepayment penalty.
Why South Carolina homeowners choose us for water heater repair
We've been a trusted choice since 1974 — over 50 years of family-owned plumbing service across South Carolina. Our techs are CSLB-licensed (#1098234), background-checked, and complete an internal 12-week training program before rolling on calls alone.
Our water heater repair carries a 10-year workmanship guarantee — separate from any manufacturer warranty on the parts themselves. If the water heater repair we performed fails because of how we did it, we come back and fix it free for a full decade. Appliances and fixtures we install are backed by their full manufacturer warranty, and the parts and accessories we fit carry standard 1–5 year warranties by item.
We quote water heater repair on honest scope: no unnecessary up-sell, salaried (never commissioned) technicians, and a transparent diagnostic so you see exactly what we see — including the parts still in good shape. If a repair is the right call we say so; if replacement is the better long-term economics, we say that. The flat-rate water heater repair quote is written and good for 30 days.
Where we provide water heater repair
We provide water heater repair throughout South Carolina, with fast coverage in every major South Carolina metro.
Outside South Carolina? Our Water Heater Repair nationwide page is the national hub for this service in all 50 states.
Reach times for water heater repair vary by traffic and time of day, so we quote an accurate ETA when you call — and the dispatch line routes straight to an on-call technician, no voicemail in between.
What homeowners ask about water heater repair
Top questions homeowners searching for Water Heater Repair near me ask us: