Leaks, pilot lights, lifespan, temperature settings and when a tank is done.
If your water heater is leaking, close the cold-water supply valve on top of the unit, turn the gas control to Off or switch off the breaker, and find where the water is coming from. Leaks at the TPR valve, inlet and outlet fittings or drain valve are usually repairable. Water seeping from the bottom of the tank jacket means the tank has rusted through and must be replaced.
A water heater pilot that lights but goes out when you release the control knob almost always has a failed or dirty thermocouple, the safety sensor that proves the pilot flame is present. On units built after 2003, a tripped flammable-vapor sensor or a clogged air screen under the tank can produce the same symptom. Relighting is safe to try once; repeated failures need a technician.
A tank-style gas water heater in Southeast Michigan typically lasts 8 to 14 years. The anode rod inside the tank is consumed by the area's hard water in roughly 5 to 8 years, and once it is gone the steel tank starts to corrode. Rusty hot water, rumbling from sediment, moisture at the base and a unit past 10 years are the signs to replace before it leaks.
Set a residential water heater to 120°F. That temperature limits scald risk, especially for children and older adults, keeps energy use down and slows mineral scaling. Legionella bacteria survive below about 122°F, so households with immunocompromised members or long pipe runs may store water at 140°F and add a thermostatic mixing valve to deliver 120°F at the taps.
Call or text and you reach Al, not a call center. Same-day service whenever possible, flat-rate pricing quoted before any work, and the same rate at 2 a.m. as 2 p.m.
