How Much Does a Water Heater Repair Cost in Denver?

Your home’s hot water supply is a precious commodity. So, if you think your water heater is in trouble, don’t wait to get it repaired.

But how much will this cost you? Well, the cost of a water heater repair in the Denver area usually ranges from $150 to over $500.

You see, the price you end up paying to repair your water heater all depends on:

1. The age of your water heater
2. What’s actually wrong with the water heater
3. Whether your water heater is under warranty
4. The plumber you hire

We’ll go through each of the 4 factors above and explain how they affect water heater repair pricing in Denver.

Cost factor #1: The age of your water heater

Typically, the older the water heater, the more expensive it is to repair it.

Why? Well, after around 10 years of age, a water heater’s parts will fail due to wear and tear. And the older the water heater, the more likely it is that several components on that water heater will fail and need complete replacement (the more failed parts, the higher the repair cost).

On the other hand, a relatively young water heater (one that’s 1–5 years old), is more likely to have a single part that needs only a repair (versus completely replacing the part).

Cost factor #2: What’s actually wrong with your water heater

Asking how much your water heater repair will cost is a lot like asking “how much will my car repair cost?”.

It all depends on the actual issue, right? For example, replacing a brake pad ($150+) is dramatically cheaper than, say, repairing the transmission ($3,000+).

Water heater repairs work the same way—one repair might be $100+ while another repair could cost you over $2,000. And without inspecting your water heater unit, it’s impossible to know how much your repair will cost.

To give you an example of how much water heater repair prices can vary, we’ve listed below some common repairs and their prices:

• Sediment buildup: $100–$175
• Broken element: $150–$200
• Broken dip tube: $150–$300+
• Leaking T&P relief valve: $200–$300+
• Dirty thermocouple: $300–$400
• Leaking tank: $300–$2,000+

Cost factor #3: Whether your water heater is under warranty

If your water heater is still “under warranty”, your repair bill will be less expensive.

So, what exactly does it mean if your water heater is “under warranty”? Well, depending on the age of your water heater, you might have one or both types of the following warranties:

1. Limited parts warranty
2. Labor warranty

A limited parts warranty

What it means: The manufacturer has agreed to cover the cost of any needed replacement parts throughout the length of the warranty. In other words, you’d only have to pay labor fees for the repair.

How long does this warranty typically last? Depending on the manufacturer, your water heater limited parts warranty may last anywhere from 2 to 6+ years.

Your limited parts warranty may be void if:

• The water heater was not initially installed according to local plumbing codes (i.e., not installed by a licensed plumber)
• The water heater hasn’t been maintained annually
• You never registered your water heater via the manufacturer’s website
• The output temperature is set higher (or lower) than the manufacturer advises on the owner’s manual

To determine if your water heater’s limited parts warranty is still valid, visit your manufacturer’s website (i.e., A.O. Smith, Bradford, etc.). Some manufacturers have a page that allows you to enter your water heater serial number to check the warranty.

If you don’t see this option, however, contact the manufacturer via phone or email and provide them with your water heater serial and/or model number and they’ll be able to check your warranty.

A labor warranties

What it means: The contractor who installed/repaired your water heater agrees to cover the cost of labor for any needed repairs throughout the length of the warranty. In other words, you’d only pay for any needed replacement parts (unless you have a valid limited parts warranty).

How long does this warranty typically last? Depending on the contractor, a labor warranty can last anywhere from 6 months to 2+ years from the date of installation or repair.

To determine if your water heater’s labor warranty is still valid, contact the professional who installed or repaired your water heater (i.e., the company you chose for your last water heater repair—or, if you’ve not had the water heater repaired yet, the company who initially installed the unit).

Cost factor #4: The plumber you hire

The higher the quality of a Denver plumber, the more they typically charge for water heater repairs.

Here’s the problem: many homeowners are tempted to save a few bucks and go with a company that offers rock-bottom prices on water heater repairs. But remember: you get what you pay for. And if you choose a lower-priced plumber, you’re typically paying for a shoddy repair that will lead to more problems in the near future.

Our advice? Get several quotes and be wary of companies who offer dramatically lower prices than others.

Once you’ve weeded out the low-priced, low-quality professionals, ultimately choose a plumbing company that:

• Can verify that they’re licensed and insured in the state of Colorado
• Has been in business for at least 10 years
• Can offer referrals of past water heater repair/install customers
• Offers upfront pricing
• Has solid reviews on various sites such as BBB, Yelp and Google+

We’ll quickly send over a professional who can inspect and diagnose your water heater, offer fair and upfront pricing then get the job done quickly and professionally.

Just visit our plumbing repair page to get a better idea of what to expect when you choose us for your water heater repair needs.