Gas or electric?
Most Markham homes heat water with natural gas, through a tank in the basement near the furnace. Many of those tanks are rented, so look for a monthly rental line on your bills first; rental tanks are generally serviced by the rental company. Owned tanks, and electric tanks in condos and some townhouses, are where we usually help.
Common faults and causes
| Symptom | Gas tank | Electric tank |
|---|---|---|
| No hot water | Pilot out, failed thermocouple or flame sensor | Tripped breaker or burnt upper element |
| Hot runs short | Silt build-up or a cracked inlet tube | Burnt bottom element |
| Crackling during heating | Silt boiling on the tank floor | Scale on elements |
| Water at the base | Relief valve, drain valve or tank leak | Same, or element gasket |
Clues pointing to water heater repair
- Showers going lukewarm halfway through.
- Popping or rumbling as the burner fires.
- Rust-coloured water from the hot side only.
- Moisture or a puddle under the tank pan.
How we diagnose
For gas tanks we check the gas supply, watch the pilot and burner, and test the thermocouple or flame sensor. Power-vented units have a fan and pressure switch that can fault; those error codes guide us. For electric tanks we isolate power at the breaker, then test elements and thermostats with a meter, never by guesswork.
A leak from the tank body itself, usually seen as rust and water seeping from under the jacket, cannot be repaired. At that point replacement is the only safe route, covered on our gas water heater replacement page.
Keeping a tank healthy
Running off a bucketful from the base spigot every six to twelve months clears the grit, and checking the relief valve keeps it from seizing. Our guide on flushing a tank water heater explains how. For rental versus ownership questions, see rent or buy.
Markham note: village-core houses tend to hide cast iron and galvanized behind plaster, while Cornell and Box Grove builds run PEX to a manifold. We ask the year your house was built so the right fittings ride along on the truck.
Straight from the phone log
My tank is fourteen years old. Is it living on borrowed time?
A decade give or take a few years, shaped by water chemistry and how often it is drained. Check the date on the rating plate.
Will you work on a tank I rent?
Normally the rental provider is obliged to, under your contract. Call them first and check your contract terms.
Ready to get it fixed?
One call, a clear explanation, and work finished tidily before we leave.