No hot water, or a tank leaking right now
A dead water heater at 2 a.m. still needs an answer, and our dispatch line runs 24/7. While you wait, close the cold water valve on top of the heater, switch off its breaker or set the gas control to off, and keep everyone away from standing water near outlets.
If you smell gas, touch no switches. Walk outside, call 911, then call the gas utility. Do not call us first for a gas smell, because the utility has to clear the line before any plumber can work.
Hot water or steam coming out of the pipe beside the tank is the relief valve doing its job. It means pressure or temperature has climbed too high, so cut power or gas and call the same day.
Is that puddle a leak, condensation, or the T and P valve?
Water around a heater has three common sources, and they call for three different answers. Only one of them means the tank is finished. Sorting them out first can save you from replacing a unit that needs a ten-minute fix.
Dry the tank and floor with a towel. Wrap a dry paper towel around each pipe fitting on top and wait 30 minutes. Whichever paper towel turns wet shows where the water is really coming from.
| Where the water is | Likely cause | What happens next |
|---|---|---|
| Seeping from the base or the bottom seam of the tank | Steel tank rusted through from the inside | Shut off water and power. This is a replacement, not a repair |
| Dripping from the discharge pipe beside the top | Temperature and pressure (T and P) relief valve opening, or a worn valve seat | Same-day visit. Thermal expansion or a bad thermostat may be the real cause |
| Wet at the hot or cold pipe connections on top | Loose or corroded nipple, union or flex connector | Usually a repair |
| Beads on the outside of a cold tank that dry within an hour | Condensation, common in humid Broward summers | Wipe it and watch it. No repair needed |
| Puddle under a heat pump or hybrid unit | Clogged condensate drain line or dirty air filter | Clean the line and filter. Often a short visit |
What to check first
These checks take about ten minutes and sometimes end the problem. Stop at any step that involves a gas smell, sparks, or water close to electrical parts.
- Breaker: an electric heater runs on a double-pole breaker. If it tripped, reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call.
- Pilot or display: on a gas unit, look for a lit pilot or a code on the control. Write the code down for the technician.
- Cold inlet valve: confirm it is fully open. A half-closed valve gives weak, lukewarm flow that looks like a heater fault.
- One tap or all taps: if only the shower runs cold, the shower valve cartridge is the suspect, not the heater.
- Top hot, bottom cold: a tank warm at the top and cool at the bottom points at a failed lower element or thermostat.
- Data plate: read the serial number for the build date, then tell us the fuel type and tank size when you call.
What fails on a gas, electric, or heat pump heater
The tank is only part of the machine. Each fuel type has its own short list of parts that wear out first, and a technician who knows that list finds the fault faster than one who guesses.
Every steel tank also has an anode rod, a metal rod that corrodes so the tank steel does not. Trade guides suggest checking it every few years, and replacing it once about half of it is gone. The City of Dania Beach softens its water, so we look at the rod itself instead of trusting an interval from a brochure.
- Gas tank: thermocouple or flame sensor, igniter, gas control valve, a sooted burner, or a blocked flue that trips the safety switch.
- Electric tank: upper and lower heating elements, upper and lower thermostats, the high-limit reset switch, and burned wire connections.
- Heat pump (hybrid) tank: fan, compressor, dirty air filter, condensate drain, and the backup electric element that takes over when the heat pump stops.
When fixing it stops making sense
The Department of Energy puts the life of a storage tank heater at 10 to 15 years. Past about 12 years, a gas control valve or a pair of elements is often money spent on a tank that can still rust through next month.
A leaking tank cannot be repaired, because the leak is in the steel under the insulation. We also cannot tell you by phone whether the water is from the tank or from a fitting on top. A short visit answers that, and if the answer is a failed tank, our water heater replacement page explains the next step.
If a replacement is coming anyway, ask about a heat pump unit or a tankless water heater before you choose. The choice is easier to make calmly than on the day the tank fails.
How a repair visit runs
A repair call follows the same order every time, so nothing gets replaced before it is tested.
- Make it safe: shut the water, the power and the gas, and check for gas odor and wet wiring.
- Test the fault: a multimeter on the elements and thermostats of an electric unit, or a flame and draft check on a gas unit.
- Test the T and P valve by lifting its lever. It should flush water and snap shut without dripping.
- Explain the options: the part, the labor, and the age of the tank, so the repair-or-replace choice is yours.
- Run a full heat cycle and check every fitting and the discharge pipe for drips before we leave.
Dania Beach closets, condos, and storm season
The median home in Dania Beach was built in 1977, according to Census survey data, so many heaters sit in closets built around older plumbing. Only about 22 percent of homes are detached single-family houses. Condos and apartments are common, which means a leaking tank can drip into a unit below, so call building management as soon as you shut the water.
About 12 percent of housing units here are mobile homes. Bring the data plate details when you call, because heaters in manufactured homes often have different sizes and venting.
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. After a power outage, do not switch an electric heater back on until the tank is full. Open a hot tap until water flows steadily, then restore power, because dry elements burn out within seconds.
Swapping a heater needs a permit in Broward County jurisdictions. A part repair is a different matter, so ask the Dania Beach Building Division if you are unsure which one your job is.
What a water heater repair costs in Broward
National published guides put tank water heater repair at about $100 to $500, and tankless repair at about $100 to $1,300. Florida prices vary, and the hour of the call can change the price.
The final number depends on what failed and whether the part is on the truck. A plumber can only price it honestly after testing the unit.
What moves the price
- The failed part. A thermostat or a relief valve costs far less than a gas control valve or a heat pump compressor.
- Fuel and unit type. Gas, electric and heat pump units use different parts. Heat pump parts are the hardest to source.
- Age of the unit. A 14-year-old tank can take a part today and leak next month, so the age changes the advice as much as the price.
- Access. A heater in an attic or a tight condo closet takes longer to reach and to service.
- Time of day. Ask on the call whether nights, weekends or holidays are priced differently.
| Work | Published range |
|---|---|
| Tank water heater repair (national) | $100 to $500 |
| Tankless water heater repair (national) | $100 to $1,300 |
| General water heater repair (national) | $230 to $1,000 |
Homeowners policies generally cover sudden and accidental water discharge, and they can treat slow seepage or lack of maintenance differently. A tank that bursts is usually handled differently than one that wept for months. Policies differ, so read yours or ask your insurer before you throw anything away, and take photos of the unit and the water damage.
Every heater is different, so a number over the phone would be a guess. Call (954) 697-4920 and describe the symptoms for a real number once a technician has tested the unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you handle water heater repair emergencies at night or on weekends in Dania?
Yes. Our dispatch line answers 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays. We cannot promise an arrival time before we know the traffic and the job, but we will tell you what to shut off while you wait.
Is it worth repairing a 12-year-old water heater?
It depends on the fault. A thermostat or element on a tank with no leaks can be worth fixing, but a gas valve repair on a unit near the end of the DOE range of 10 to 15 years often is not. We explain both options before any work starts.
Why is my water heater leaking from the top?
Top leaks are often a corroded fitting or a loose connector, which is a repair. Water from the discharge pipe is the relief valve opening, which can come from high pressure or temperature. Neither means the tank has failed, but both need a same-day look.
Can I relight the pilot light myself?
You can follow the lighting instructions printed on the unit, but only if there is no gas smell. If the pilot will not stay lit after two tries, or you ever smell gas, stop, leave the house, call 911, then call the gas utility.
I manage rentals in Dania Beach. Can you take a no-hot-water call for a tenant?
Yes, and we also serve Davie rentals. Give us the unit address and who can open the door, and tell us whether you authorize the repair. For condos and duplexes, tell us whether a shared shutoff is involved so we do not cut water to a neighbor.
How do I know whether I need a repair or a new heater?
Check the age on the data plate, then look for water at the base of the tank. If it is a burst line instead, see burst pipe repair. A leaking tank means replacement. Call (954) 697-4920 and we will walk through the symptoms and tell you what a technician should test first.
Do you service a water heater that still works?
A yearly flush is routine upkeep for a tank heater, and a heat pump unit is serviced to the maker's instructions. Tell us the brand, the age and whether it is gas, electric or heat pump when you call, and we will explain what a service visit covers.
Code reference: plumbing work in Florida falls under the Florida Building Code, Plumbing (8th Edition, 2023), which is based on the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC). Ask the Dania Beach Building Division whether your job needs a permit.