Hot water tank service · open 24/7
Water Heater Repair in Richmond, BC Hot showers back, same day
Gas, electric and tankless water heaters repaired or replaced across Richmond. We find the real fault first, then give you one flat price before any work starts.
- 5.0 on Google, 51 reviews
- Same-day service
- 1-year workmanship warranty
Should I repair or replace my hot water tank?
Repair it if the tank is under about 10 years old and the problem is a part: a thermocouple, pilot, gas valve, heating element, thermostat or flame rod. Replace it if water is leaking from the tank body itself, or the tank is 10 to 12 years old or more and failing again. A leaking tank cannot be patched, because the steel inside has rusted through.
In Metro Vancouver most people call it a hot water tank, and most calls start the same way: a cold shower, a puddle in the closet or a rumbling utility room. Encano Plumbing is a family-owned Richmond shop. We repair, replace and install tank and tankless water heaters for houses, stratas and small businesses.
The first job is diagnostics. A cold gas tank can be a worn thermocouple, a dirty flame sensor or a venting problem. An electric tank usually needs an element or thermostat. We test before we quote, so you never pay for parts the heater did not need. When the honest answer is replacement, we show you why and give one flat price in writing, including haul-away of the old tank.
Signs your water heater needs a plumber
No hot water at all
Pilot or burner out on gas, element or breaker on electric, an error code on tankless.
Hot water runs out fast
Sediment buildup, or one of two electric elements has failed.
Water around the base
A fitting or valve is fixable. The tank body leaking is not.
Popping or rumbling sounds
Sediment boiling under the water, wasting energy.
Rusty or smelly hot water
A spent anode rod or corrosion inside the tank.
Pilot keeps going out
A weak thermocouple, dirty pilot or venting issue.
Relief valve dripping or discharging
Overheating or high pressure. Never cap it.
Water heater work we do in Richmond
Residential tanks, tankless units and commercial systems, quoted upfront.
- Hot water tank repair
- Thermocouple, pilot, gas valve, flame rod cleaning, elements, thermostats and valves.
- Hot water tank replacement
- Gas or electric, sized to your household, with venting reconnected, tested and the old tank removed.
- Tankless water heater installation
- On-demand units, after we check gas line size and venting route.
- Strata suites and closet installs
- Closet tanks get a drain pan where space allows, so a leak goes to the drain, not the suite below.
- Commercial water heaters
- Repairs and replacements planned around your business hours.
How a water heater call works
- 01
Call or text with the symptom
Tell us gas, electric or tankless, and what you see. A photo of the label helps.
- 02
We diagnose on site
We test the heater and explain what failed in plain words.
- 03
Flat price, then the work
You get repair or replace options with one upfront price each. Nothing starts until you agree.
- 04
Test, clean up, warranty
We check for leaks, clean up and back the job with a 1-year workmanship warranty. A new tank or tankless unit also carries its own manufacturer warranty, often 6 to 12 years depending on the model.
Hot water tank replacement cost in Richmond: how we price it
We do not post a price list, because the price depends on the service, the time and day you need us, and whether it is an emergency. You get one flat price in writing before any work starts.
| What you pay for | How it is priced | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water heater repair (part replacement)Depends on the part: element, thermocouple, valve or flame rod. | Quoted in writing before work starts | Depends on the part: element, thermocouple, valve or flame rod. |
| Hot water tank replacementTank size, gas or electric, venting, a drain pan and closet access. | Quoted in writing before work starts | Tank size, gas or electric, venting, a drain pan and closet access. |
| Tankless water heater installationGas line size, venting and the location of the unit. | Quoted in writing before work starts | Gas line size, venting and the location of the unit. |
| Nights, weekends and emergenciesA burst tank at 2 a.m. is priced differently from a planned swap. | Quoted in writing before work starts | A burst tank at 2 a.m. is priced differently from a planned swap. |
Your price depends on the service, the time and day, and whether it is an emergency. You see the exact price in writing and agree to it before anyone touches a tool.
The assessment is free in Richmond. Outside Richmond, travel time is charged, and we quote it before we come out. If you go ahead with the work, you get a discount on that travel time. You always know the price before we go.
Repair or replace your hot water tank?
Age and where the water is coming from decide most cases. We show you what we find before you choose.
Repair it when
- The tank is under about 10 years old
- The fault is a part: thermocouple, pilot, gas valve, element, thermostat or flame rod
- The leak is at a fitting, the drain valve or the relief valve, not the tank
- Hot water is short because of sediment that a flush can clear
Replace it when
- Water is leaking from the tank body itself
- The tank is 10 to 12 years old or more and has needed repeat repairs
- Rusty hot water keeps coming back from inside the tank
- Your household outgrew the tank, or you want to switch to tankless
Hot water tanks in Richmond homes and stratas
Richmond mixes 1960s to 1990s houses in Seafair, Broadmoor and Blundell with gas tanks in the garage, townhouses in Terra Nova and Westwind, and City Centre condos with the tank in a closet. Each needs a different install.
A strata closet tank that lets go can soak the suite below, and many older closets have no drain pan. Since we are based in Richmond, a same-day visit from Steveston to Hamilton is a short drive.
Neighborhoods we work in
- Steveston
- Terra Nova
- Broadmoor
- Seafair
- Blundell
- Garden City
- City Centre
- Brighouse
- Westwind
- Hamilton
- East Richmond
- Ironwood
Gas water heater work is done by a licensed gas fitter, with a permit when the job requires one. If you smell gas, leave the home and call FortisBC’s 24-hour emergency line at 1-800-663-9911, and 911 from outside.
Ask us anything51 reviews on our Google profile, copied word for word.
Celine YinGoogle review · 10 months ago
Very responsive, on-time and excellent service. Ed is very professional and knowledgeable. He helped us with installation of new hot water tank, garburator, dishwasher, washers/dryers, toilets and removal of the old ones. He also handled any other plumbing concerns we’ve got. He can do them all. Would highly recommend!
Onilton MacielLocal Guide · 3 months agoEddie is amazing. He is professional and quick in resolving the issues. He has very fair prices. Highly recommend!
gustavo de almeida françaGoogle review · 3 months agoEddie is super friendly, helpful, and transparent! Always making sure his clients understand what needs to be done and how much it will cost ahead of time.
Pam AndrewsLocal Guide · 3 months agoGreat service. Eddie is knowledgeable and informative. Arrived very quickly and did an excellent job.
Makoto TaniguchiGoogle review · 6 months agoEddie was friendly, gave me a good quote, came in early and explained the tasks prior to starting and did an excellent job. Highly recommended.
Luiz PortellaGoogle review · 7 months agoEddie is amazing! Great customer service and attention to details. He helped me with a leaky shower that needed a cartridge replacement and a couple of other minor repairs. 5 stars hands down. I recommend!
Talitha NobregaGoogle review · 7 months agoSecond time using Encano Company, and Ed was amazing once again! He’s reliable, professional, and gets the job done quickly. Really appreciate the great service highly recommend!
BY KGoogle review · 6 months agoReally thankful to Ed for replacing our kitchen sink and garbage disposal. The service was fast,very professional and the quality of work was excellent. Highly recommend!
Water Heater Repair questions
Straight answers. If yours is not here, text it to us.
Open now · 24 hours, 7 days
Pipe burst at 2 a.m.? Call or text. We pick up.
Shut the main water valve if you can, then call or text. The Encano team answers 24/7 and tells you what happens next, including the price, before anyone touches a tool.
Get your water heater repair price
Tell us what is going on. We reply with next steps and a time, and the price is agreed before any work starts.