Mamba Drainage Services
Water Heater Repair Vancouver
No hot water this morning. Pilot light will not stay lit. Tank leaking, banging, or pushing rust coloured water through the taps.
We fix gas, electric and tankless water heaters across Greater Vancouver. Licensed plumber and gas fitter, with parts for the major BC brands riding on the truck.
Common water heater problems in Vancouver homes
Vancouver water heaters fail for predictable reasons. Knowing which one you have cuts the diagnostic on the call.
No hot water at all on a gas tank. Pilot light out, thermocouple failed, gas control valve dead, or a fouled burner assembly. About 80% of no hot water calls on gas tanks come down to the pilot or the thermocouple. The other 20% usually mean the gas control valve has failed and needs replacing.
No hot water on an electric tank. Upper or lower heating element burned out, thermostat failed, or the reset button has tripped. Elements wear faster here than in a soft water city, so figure 6 to 10 years of element life instead of 10 to 15.
No hot water on a tankless. Flow sensor failure, fouled flame rod, blocked condensate drain, or a no ignition error code. Tankless needs manufacturer specific diagnostics, and we carry Navien, Rinnai, Noritz and Bosch parts.
Lukewarm only. A broken dip tube letting cold water mix with hot at the top of the tank, or one of two electric elements gone. Common on tanks past the 8 year mark.
Tank leaking. Water at a fitting on the top of the tank means tightening or replacing the connection. Water from the bottom of the tank means the tank itself has corroded through and replacement is the only answer. We confirm which one it is on arrival.
Banging and popping. Sediment on the bottom of the tank insulating the burner. Flush the tank, replace the anode rod, reset the thermostat, and it usually runs quiet again for another 3 to 5 years.
Rust coloured water. A failed anode rod, the sacrificial magnesium rod that takes the corrosion instead of the steel tank wall. Once the anode is gone the wall starts corroding. Catch it early, because an anode swap is a small job and a whole tank is not.
Pilot will not stay lit. A failed thermocouple in about 90% of cases, a thermopile on newer high efficiency tanks, or the flame sensor on a tankless.
A sulphur or rotten egg smell in the hot water. That is a reaction between the water and the magnesium anode rod. Switch to an aluminium and zinc anode and the smell goes.
What Vancouver customers say
Ryan was great! My landlord called him to fix my blocked kitchen sink. He showed up the same day (on a Sunday) and fixed the problem. He even cleaned the sink and dried up all the water that had leaked before he got there. And he was very careful coming in and out of the house so my cat wouldn’t get out. I’d definitely recommend him.
Ryan is INCREDIBLE. He has been responding to all of us (four houses and families!) affected by a sewage back up. This is all on Boxing Day and beyond, in terrible weather full of ice, cold and rain. He is so knowledgeable, and knew what was needed right away. Just the top of his field I am sure. As well as that, he is incredibly calm, respectful, kind and fair. I am truly amazed by this person's capacity and competence in combination with his noble, calm presence in the face of a real mess. Thank you Ryan, so very much!
I had very positive experience with Mamba Services, Ryan was amazing to work with and took care of my drain issues in no time. He arrived on time, was very professional and efficient in carrying out the work. What impressed me was how honest he was in recommending needed repair. He was very patient in explaining the different options. I will certainly call them for future projects.
Had an excellent experience. Ryan was fantastic, it was an after hours call late in the evening and he showed up exactly in the time frame he gave. Took care of the kitchen sink issue within minutes all systems were running like new. Pricing was extremely reasonable, Ryan was patient and explained everything to me while fixing my problem. I would highly recommend this company for any plumbing work.
Ryan was efficient, experienced, and knowledgeable. He was able to squeeze me into his schedule with short notice and wasted no time with my appointment. He arrived on site inspected the issue, and was quickly at work with resolving the problem. I am very pleased with his service and honesty. He provided recommendations that will help assist me in future occurrences.
Water heater tips from Vancouver service calls
- Replace the anode rod every 5 years. The sacrificial rod takes the corrosion that would otherwise eat the tank wall. It is the single best maintenance spend on a tank.
- Drain a gallon or two from the tank twice a year. Sediment settles on the bottom and insulates the burner. A quick drain through the bottom valve pulls it out, and the tank both lasts longer and heats faster.
- Set the thermostat to 49C, which is 120F. Higher wastes gas and accelerates element wear. Lower lets Legionella grow. 49C is the BC building code recommendation.
- Listen for popping or banging. That is sediment built up thick on the bottom. Flush it and swap the anode before it kills the burner.
- A sulphur smell means the anode is reacting with the water. Switch to an aluminium and zinc anode and it goes away.
- Test the T&P valve once a year. That is the temperature and pressure relief valve on the top or side of the tank. Lift the lever briefly, water should flush out, then it should reseat. If it does not reseat, it needs replacing.
- Start planning for replacement at year 8. Average Vancouver tank life is 10 to 12 years. Budgeting at year 8 means it is a choice, not an emergency, and you get to consider higher efficiency or tankless.
- Tankless needs servicing every year. Descale, flame rod clean and a condensate drain check. It keeps the warranty valid and the efficiency where you paid for it.
- Photograph the serial plate. It is the silver sticker on the tank. Keep it with your home records, because having the model number when a part is needed saves a truck visit for spec verification.
Water heater repair
Cold shower this morning?
Tell us the make, the age and what it is doing. Parts for the major BC brands ride on the truck, so a bad thermocouple or a burned out element does not turn into a new tank.
Water heater repair FAQ, Vancouver
The common repairs are a thermocouple, a gas control valve, electric elements, an anode rod or a dip tube. The diagnostic is waived when you go ahead with the repair. You get the full number on the call once we have taken your symptoms.
Sometimes. It is a straight comparison of what the repair costs against what a new install costs. If the tank is past 10 years and has more than one failure point, replacement usually wins on total cost of ownership. We give you the numbers and let you decide. No replacement push when repair makes sense.
Yes. We service Navien, Rinnai, Noritz, Bosch and Rheem tankless, with manufacturer specific diagnostic equipment on every truck. An annual descale and service is strongly recommended on Vancouver water to keep the warranty intact.
Most likely a failed anode rod, or corrosion inside the tank. Caught early it is an anode rod replacement. If the tank itself is corroding, replacement is the only fix.
Yes. Even a slow leak leads to floor damage and electrical hazards. We run 24/7 emergency dispatch for active water heater leaks.
Yes. A standard 40 to 50 gallon gas replacement is quoted installed, with the permit, the removal of the old tank and the Class B gas inspection all inside the number. See our hot water tank installation page.
We quote conversions with honest payback math, installed, with the gas line upgrade and the vent change inside the number. Payback varies a lot on usage. Tankless saves 25 to 40% on gas for a high usage household and 5 to 15% for a low usage one, and we will tell you which one you are.
Yes, and many handyman services are not. Any gas tank repair in BC requires a Class B gas fitter. Check the licence number before you book anyone. Ours is on the truck and on the website.
Yes, all of Greater Vancouver on the same pricing structure.
Yes. We partner with Financeit for 0% interest options up to 24 months, and most water heater replacements qualify. The application is online and you can do it from your phone.
24/7 EMERGENCY DISPATCH
Water where it should not be?
Ryan picks up. Live dispatch, and you get a real arrival window on the call.