Free diagnosis tool
What's wrong with my water heater?
Describe what your water heater is doing. Our diagnosis tool explains the likely cause, how urgent it is and what to do next, in seconds.
Water Heater Diagnosis Tool
Describe the symptom. Get likely causes in seconds.
Tell me what your water heater is doing and I'll walk you through the most likely causes, how urgent it is, and what to do next. Pick a symptom or type your own.
AI guidance only. Smell gas? Leave the home and call your gas utility or 911.
Symptom guide
Common water heater symptoms and what they mean
- Emergency
Leaking or water on the floor
Shut the cold supply valve above the heater. A tank leak usually means replacement.
See the fix - Soon
No hot water
Often a pilot, thermocouple, igniter or element. Usually a repair.
See the fix - Can wait
Runs out too fast
Sediment, a broken dip tube or an undersized tank. Tankless solves it for good.
See the fix - Can wait
Popping or rumbling
Sediment overheating on the tank bottom. A flush often helps.
See the fix - Soon
Rusty or smelly water
A failing anode rod or internal corrosion. Worth an inspection.
See the fix - Soon
Tankless error code
Scale build-up, venting or gas supply. Descaling fixes many codes.
See the fix
5.0-star rated on Google, Facebook & more
Homeowners who called after diagnosing the problem
902+
Five-star reviews. Zero paid ads can buy that.
Reviews from all platforms, from homeowners across Placer & Sacramento Counties.
- Google · 487 · 5.0 stars
- Facebook · 48 · 100% recommend
- Angi · 86 · 5.0 stars
- HomeAdvisor · 89 · 5.0 stars
- Yelp · 192 · 5.0 stars
- BBB · A+ Accredited
"On a quiet Sunday morning our 25-year-old water heater started leaking. Jen answered in two rings, gathered the make, model and capacity, and gave a detailed, very fair quote immediately. In about 60 minutes, on a Sunday, Mathieu arrived and had the new water heater installed with a drain pan, expansion tank and earthquake straps in under two hours. HOTCO turned a disastrous weekend surprise into a non-event."
"I contacted HOTCO on a Friday night, and by Monday afternoon we had a new 40 gallon Bradford White water heater professionally installed. Charles was prompt, polite and very knowledgeable, had the old heater out and the new one in within two hours, then explained everything he did. We got both value and quality work."
"We woke up Saturday to our water heater leaking into the tray. The nice lady who answered the phone hooked us up right away and Charles showed up at 1:00 p.m. He was friendly, polite, respectful and knowledgeable. My wife and I are seniors and we really appreciate the rapid response."
FAQ
Diagnosis tool questions
Still have a question? Ask our assistant in the corner, or call and talk to a specialist.
Is the diagnosis tool free?
Yes. It is free and available 24/7. When you want a technician to confirm the problem and quote a fix, call (916) 905-4468.
How accurate is the diagnosis?
It gives the most likely causes based on the symptoms you describe, using the same questions our technicians ask on the phone. A technician on-site confirms the exact cause before any work.
What should I do if my water heater is leaking?
Turn off the cold water supply valve above the heater, then turn the gas knob to pilot or switch off the breaker for electric units. Call (916) 905-4468 and we will get a technician out fast.
What if I smell gas?
Do not use the tool. Leave the home immediately, do not switch lights or appliances, and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
No hot water? We can usually fix it today.
Talk to a real water heater specialist now. Free quotes, upfront pricing, and same-day service in most cases.