A water heater that stops working rarely picks a convenient time. If you are standing in a cold shower or looking at a wet garage floor, call the 24/7 emergency line and a licensed plumber can be scheduled the same day when availability allows.
Before the call, check two things. If water is leaking from the tank body or the bottom, shut the cold water valve on top of the heater and turn the gas control to pilot or flip the breaker off. If there is no leak, check that the breaker has not tripped or the pilot is lit. Then call (805) 249-7135 and tell us what you found.
No hot water: what is usually wrong
No hot water is the most common reason people call. The cause depends on the fuel.
Gas heater, no heat
A pilot that will not stay lit, a worn thermocouple or a failed gas control valve.
Electric heater, no heat
A tripped breaker, a failed upper or lower element or a bad thermostat.
Lukewarm water only
A dead lower element, a broken dip tube or heavy sediment on the burner or elements.
Hot at first, then cold
Often sediment insulating the heat source or a failing element.
Most of these are repairs rather than replacements, which is why we diagnose before recommending anything.
Water heater leaks: tank, fittings or relief valve
Where the water comes from decides the fix. A dripping fitting, a weeping relief valve or a drain valve can be repaired. Water seeping from the tank seam or the bottom means the steel liner has failed, and no patch lasts.
If the leak is the tank itself, the heater has to be replaced. We say so plainly and move to water heater replacement rather than selling a repair that will not hold. If it is a connection or valve, repair is usually the cheaper path.
A leak you cannot place from the heater may be a supply line. Our leak detection crew can trace it without opening walls.
Water heater emergency? Call the 24/7 line
Call the 24/7 line. We will walk through the breaker and pilot with you and book the next available plumber.
Hard water, sediment and the Lompoc tank
The City of Lompoc's 2025 water quality report lists average hardness near 293 ppm, with a range of 245 to 318 ppm, and total dissolved solids near 817 ppm. That is hard water, roughly 17 grains per gallon.
In a tank heater, those minerals settle as scale. On gas units it sits under the tank and forces the burner to run longer. On electric units it coats the elements until they burn out. The practical result is rumbling or popping noises, longer recovery and an earlier failure. A flush and an anode rod check at repair time, and a flush each year after, are the cheapest ways to protect the tank.
Gas, electric, hybrid and tankless repair
We repair standard gas and electric tank heaters, heat pump hybrid models and tankless units. Tankless heaters have their own faults, usually scale in the heat exchanger or a blocked vent, and they need descaling more often than people expect in hard water.
If you are weighing a tankless unit, our tankless water heater page covers installation, flush and descale service in detail. For a new tank that suits a garage or closet, see water heater installation.
Earthquake straps and code on a repair visit
California Health and Safety Code section 19211 requires water heaters to be braced, anchored or strapped to resist falling or horizontal displacement from earthquake motion. Lompoc felt a strong earthquake in November 1927, and the Central Coast remains a seismic region.
On any repair visit we check the straps. A loose or missing strap is a quick fix that also helps when you sell the home, because sellers certify compliance in writing.
What to do if your water heater fails
- Turn the gas control to pilot or switch off the breaker if the tank is leaking.
- Close the cold water valve above the heater to stop the flow.
- Do not touch the relief valve discharge, because the water can be scalding.
- If you smell gas, leave the building and call 911 first.
- Photograph the leak and the heater label before calling.
What affects the price of a repair
Insurance rarely covers a worn-out heater, but sudden water damage from a failed tank may be covered under some homeowner policies. Want your real number? Call (805) 249-7135.
Water Heater Repair questions, answered
Yes. The line is open 24/7, including weekends and holidays, and same-day visits are booked when available. If the tank is leaking, shut the cold water valve first and call right away.
If the water comes from a fitting, valve or pipe connection, usually yes. If it comes from the tank body, the heater needs to be replaced.
Common causes are a failed lower element on electric units, sediment on gas units or a broken dip tube that sends cold water straight to the outlet.
Tank heaters commonly last about 8 to 12 years. Hard water and skipped maintenance sit toward the short end of that range.
If the manufacturer's label describes it and you smell no gas, many owners do. If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas utility or 911 first.
Permit rules vary, so ask the City of Lompoc building division. Replacing a heater is treated differently from swapping a part.