Water Heater Repair in Myrtle Beach, SC
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Power comes and goes here, and your water heater feels it
Horry County gets hit with wind. Ten years of records show 111 damaging wind events, the kind that knock the power out. Almost half of South Carolina households lost power for at least a day in 2024. An electric water heater should come back on by itself once power returns. If it doesn't, or it trips its breaker instead, the heating element or thermostat inside has likely failed.
Winters here are mild, with nights averaging in the 37°F from December through February, so the tank isn't working as hard as it would somewhere colder. If you're waiting longer for hot water or it's running out faster than before, that points to the element or thermostat losing strength, not the whole tank giving out.
- 37°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 5 months
- November through March, the months homes here need heat
- 45%
- of South Carolina households lost power for a day or more in 2024, and a heater with an electric element or electric ignition stops without it
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A new water heater would cut about $300 a year off hot water for a typical South Carolina home.
Estimates for a typical South Carolina home, compared with an older unit built to the federal minimum, from EIA household energy data and South Carolina fuel prices. Your home will differ.
Repair makes sense when an element, thermostat or gas valve has failed.
Replacement makes sense when the tank itself is leaking.
- Why is my water heater leaking from the bottom?
- The tank itself has likely rusted through and is starting to fail. Water heaters have a steel tank with a glass lining inside, and once that lining cracks, the steel underneath rusts and eventually leaks. It could also be a loose drain valve or a fitting at the bottom, which a contractor can check and tighten or replace. If the leak is coming from the tank body itself, the tank needs to be replaced, not repaired.
- Why won't the pilot light on my water heater stay lit?
- The most common cause is a worn thermocouple, the small part that senses the pilot flame and keeps gas flowing to it. When it wears out, it stops sensing the flame correctly and shuts the gas off, which puts the pilot out. A dirty pilot orifice or a draft near the pilot can also cause this. A contractor can test the thermocouple and replace it if it is the problem, which usually solves it.
- Can a tankless water heater be repaired?
- Yes, most tankless water heater problems can be repaired without replacing the whole unit. Common issues include a failed igniter, a clogged inlet filter, mineral buildup on the heat exchanger, or a bad flow sensor, and each of these can be serviced or replaced on its own. Tankless units also often display an error code that points straight to the failing part. A contractor can read that code and tell you whether it is a repair or something more serious.