Water Heater Repair in Bangor, ME
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Bangor winters put your water heater to work
Homes here need heat from September through May, nine months of the year, and cold nights that average 10°F in December through February mean your water heater is pulling in colder water for most of the year too. That steady demand adds up on the heating element or the burner, and on the thermostat that tells it when to fire.
Penobscot County has seen 134 winter storms and 188 damaging wind events over the last ten years, and across Maine more than half of households lost power for at least a day in 2024. When power drops, an electric water heater stops heating until it comes back, and a gas unit with an electronic igniter can't light either. Most units pick back up on their own once power returns. If yours doesn't, something else needs a look.
- 10°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 9 months
- September through May, the months homes here need heat
- 54%
- of Maine households lost power for a day or more in 2024, and a heater with an electric element or electric ignition stops without it
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- Why is my water heater leaking from the bottom?
- Most often the tank itself has rusted through from the inside and is starting to fail. Sediment builds up at the bottom of the tank over years, and once it wears through the metal, water finds its way out and there is no patching it. It can also be a loose drain valve or a fitting that has failed, which a contractor can check before assuming the worst. If the leak is coming from the tank body, the water heater needs to be replaced, not repaired.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The most common cause is a worn thermocouple, the small sensor that tells the gas valve the pilot is burning. When it wears out, it shuts the gas off even though the flame is lit. A weak pilot flame, a draft reaching the pilot, or a clogged pilot tube can cause the same problem. A contractor can test the thermocouple in a few minutes and replace it if it is the cause.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most problems with a tankless water heater are repairable. Common issues are a failed igniter, a clogged inlet filter, mineral scale built up on the heat exchanger, or a flow sensor that is not reading correctly. Scale buildup is worth watching for since it reduces how well the unit heats water over time. A contractor can flush the system or replace the failed part once the cause is found.