Drain Cleaning
Slow, gurgling or backed-up drains in kitchens, bathrooms and basements.
Serving Chicagoland Since 1993
Water Heater Repair in Highland Park, IL
No hot water, a leak at the base of the tank or a heater that runs out too fast. We diagnose the problem, tell you honestly whether it's worth repairing and give you a flat price before we start. Our plumbers serve homeowners across Highland Park and the North Shore, 24/7.
Signs Your Water Heater Needs Repair
Most water heater problems give you a warning first. Here's what to watch for:
No Hot Water, or Not Enough
A pilot that won't stay lit, a failed element or thermostat, or a tank full of sediment can all cut your hot water short.
Water Leaking From the Bottom
A small leak at a valve or fitting is often a repair. Water coming from the tank itself usually means the tank has failed.
Rumbling or Popping Noises
Sediment builds up on the bottom of the tank and crackles as the burner heats through it. It's a sign the tank needs flushing, or is near the end.
Rusty or Smelly Hot Water
Rust-colored water or a rotten-egg smell from the hot tap points to a corroding tank or a worn anode rod.
Water Heater Problems in Highland Park Homes
The median Highland Park home was built in 1963. Water heaters don't last that long, so most homes here are on their second, third or fourth heater, installed around older plumbing.
Winter Is the Hardest Season
In a Lake County winter, the water coming into your home is much colder, so the heater works harder to keep up. That's when a struggling heater usually gives out, often on the coldest night of the year.
Older Homes, Newer Code
When a heater does need replacing, the new one has to meet today's code for venting, gas and water connections, even if the old one didn't. We'll tell you up front if your setup needs changes.
Repair or Replace
If the repair costs a big share of a new unit, or the tank itself is leaking, replacement usually makes more sense. See water heater installation or, if you're considering an upgrade, tankless water heaters.
Residential Water Heater Service
We service the water heaters found in Highland Park homes: gas and electric tank heaters, tankless units, and heaters installed in basements, utility rooms and garages. Repair, replacement, flushing and safety checks all start the same way: a technician looks at your heater before recommending anything.
Not sure what you have? The label on the side of the tank lists the fuel type, capacity and manufacture date. Tell us what it says when you call and we'll come prepared. For a new heater, see water heater installation.
Water Heater Maintenance and Flushing
Sediment settles to the bottom of every tank. Over time it makes the heater work harder, creates rumbling noises and shortens the life of the tank. Flushing the tank clears that sediment out. Checking the anode rod, the pressure relief valve and the burner or elements catches wear before it turns into a leak or a cold shower.
Most manufacturers recommend flushing a tank heater about once a year. Tankless units need regular descaling. If your heater is rumbling, slow to heat or has never been flushed, a maintenance visit is a good first step before a repair.
The J. Blanton Difference773-724-9272
What Happens When You Call J. Blanton
The most common complaint about water heater service is getting a sales pitch instead of a diagnosis. Here's how we work instead.
1. A Technician, Not a Salesperson
We diagnose the heater before we recommend anything. If a part fixes it, that's what we'll tell you.
2. Repair vs. Replace, Explained
We walk you through both options, what each costs and how long each is likely to last, so the decision is yours.
3. A Clear Price Before We Start
You get a flat-rate price before any work begins, and the work area is cleaned up before we leave.
Customer Stories
Water Heater Repair Reviews
4.7 stars from 5,669+ Google reviews across all J. Blanton locations.
★★★★★
"Christian and Saul were great - super friendly and efficient with fixing our water heater! Even recommended preventative work which would save us money in the future."
★★★★★
"Joey was timely and efficient. He took care of checking and servicing our water heater, and went above and beyond to also check on previous repair work that had been done!"
★★★★★
"Julian and Avery did a great god at our maintenance visit. They were very knowledgeable and thorough they even flushed my water heater! Thank you Avery and Julian from J Blanton."
Got Questions?
Water Heater Questions From Highland Park Homeowners
A leaking tank means replace. A failed part on a younger heater usually means repair.
If the tank itself is leaking, it needs replacing. If it's a part like a thermostat, element, igniter or valve, a repair usually makes sense, especially on a heater under 8 to 10 years old. If the repair would cost a big share of a new unit, we'll tell you, and you decide.
Tank heaters typically last about 8 to 12 years. Tankless units often last longer.
Tank water heaters typically last about 8 to 12 years. Tankless units often last longer with regular descaling. Sediment, water quality and how hard the heater works in winter all affect lifespan.
It's either a valve, which is a repair, or the tank, which means replacement.
It can be a drain valve or relief valve that's dripping, which is a repair, or the tank itself corroding through, which means replacement. Turn off the water supply to the heater and call. We'll tell you which one it is.
It depends on the failed part and heater type. You get a flat price before any work begins.
It depends on what's failed, the heater type and the parts it needs. We diagnose first and give you a flat-rate price before any work begins, so you know the cost going in.
About once a year for a tank flush. Tankless units need regular descaling.
Most manufacturers recommend flushing a tank heater about once a year and descaling tankless units regularly. An annual check also catches a worn anode rod or a sticky relief valve early. See water heater maintenance.
Annual Protection Plan
Join the No Drip Club
Most plumbing problems start small. The No Drip Club brings a J. Blanton plumber to your home for regular maintenance, so small issues get caught before they turn into big repairs.
- Two Free Professional Maintenance Visits per Year
- 10% Discount on All General Plumbing & Sewer Services
- 5-Year Parts and Labor Warranty on Approved Projects
- VIP Priority Scheduling Status (Skip the Queue)
What We Fix
Plumbing Services in Highland Park
Learn More
Sewer Repair
Tree roots, cracked clay pipe and repeat backups in the line from your house to the street.
Sump Pumps
Sump pump repair, replacement and battery backups to keep your basement dry through heavy rain and snowmelt.
Burst & Frozen Pipes
Repair for pipes that froze or burst, from basement water lines to outdoor spigots.
Gas Lines & Fireplaces
Gas line repair, leak detection and gas fireplace service.
Emergency Plumbing
Burst pipes, sewer backups and no hot water, any time of day or night.
Serving the North Shore, 24/7 Phone
No Hot Water? Let's Get It Back.
Our Highland Park office is at 1904 Green Bay Rd B, and our phone line is open 24/7.
We also serve Highwood, Fort Sheridan, Deerfield, Bannockburn, Riverwoods, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Glencoe and more.
Need a Plumber?Call our Highland Park Office
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