What we do
- Thermocouples, pilot assemblies and igniters on gas tank heaters
- Temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valves tested and swapped when worn
- Sediment drained and flushed until the water runs clear
- Leaky drain valves replaced with sturdier brass ones
- Connector, nipple and shutoff leaks traced and resealed on top of the tank
- Like-for-like replacement: a new tank of the same fuel and similar size on the existing water, gas and vent connections
- A once-over checkup: burner flame, draft hood, drain pan and thermostat setting
In Alhambra homes
A city report on Alhambra’s housing finds that about 77 percent of its homes were built before 1980, so many heaters here sit in closets, garages and service porches that were laid out for an earlier tank. Tight spaces make it hard to reach the drain valve or see the pilot window, and that is often why routine upkeep gets skipped. We bring short hoses and a light, and we work around what is there.
Get a quote in one text
Send a photo of the label on the side of the tank, one of the pipes on top, and one of the pan underneath. Our number for photos is (626) 684-3505, and the price comes back before any work is booked.
Signs a water heater needs a look
Hot water that runs out faster than it used to, rumbling or popping while the burner runs, rusty or smelly hot water, a pilot that will not stay lit, water in the pan, or a relief valve pipe that drips. Any one of these is worth a photo by text before it becomes a bigger job.
Flushing an older tank
Minerals settle at the bottom of every tank and insulate the water from the burner, so the heater runs longer to do the same work. We shut off the gas or power, connect a hose to the drain valve, and drain and refill until the water comes out clear. On a tank that has not been drained in years, we open the valve slowly and stop if it starts to clog, rather than forcing it.
Setting the temperature
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Saver guide suggests setting the water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which it calls safe for most of the population. We check where your dial sits after any repair and set it where you want it.
A yearly checkup
Once a year we look the whole heater over: the burner flame should be steady and mostly blue, the draft hood should pull air in, the pan should be dry, and the relief valve should open and reseat cleanly. We also run a short drain from the bottom valve to judge how much sediment has built up, and tell you whether a full flush is due now or can wait another year.
Replacing a tank that is done
Water seeping through the shell of the tank means the steel has rusted through, and no part fixes that. If the new heater can use the same spot and hookups, we drain and disconnect the old one, set the new tank, reconnect it, fill and light it, check every joint and set the temperature, all in one visit.
What we hand off
A new or rerouted gas line, a vent that must be changed, a tankless conversion, or a new electrical circuit goes to a plumber, gas fitter or electrician, and we say so in our first reply. If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas company.
Sources: City of Alhambra, housing needs report (age of housing stock); U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver guide (2022).
Repair guides for this job
- Replacing a toilet without harming a vintage tile floorReplacing a toilet in an Alhambra bath with original 1920s or 1930s tile: measuring the rough-in, repairing the flange and protecting the old floor.
- Low water pressure at one faucet, shower or toiletWhy one faucet, shower or toilet in an older Alhambra house runs weak, the quick checks you can do first, and what a repair visit looks like.
- Replacing a garbage disposal under an older kitchen sinkWhat to check when a disposal hums, leaks or will not turn on, and how we fit a new one under the deep vintage sinks found in older Alhambra kitchens.
- Fitting a new faucet to an old sinkHow to tell which new faucets fit an older sink, why vintage wall-mount and widespread sinks need care, and what our faucet replacement visit involves.
Looking for a handyman in Alhambra for more than one job? Send the whole list and we’ll price it together.
We serve Alhambra first, plus Monterey Park, San Gabriel and other nearby cities. Have a question? See the handyman FAQ.