A Poway water heater that has gone cold, sprung a drip or started rumbling usually needs a part, a valve or a good flush rather than a whole new unit. If the tank is leaking from the shell, replacement is the honest answer. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Poway.
Is Poway's water rough on water heaters?
It is hard water. The City of Poway treats its own supply at the Lester J. Berglund Water Treatment Plant, mostly imported raw water plus local runoff captured in Lake Poway, and its water quality report lists hardness averaging roughly 228 to 235 ppm as calcium carbonate, with a range of 165 to 291 ppm. Water like that drops minerals as it heats. In a tank, they settle into a layer on the bottom that makes the burner work harder and causes popping sounds; on electric elements, they form a crust that leads to early burnout. Poway disinfects with both chlorine and chloramines, and either one can wear valve seals and gaskets over time.
Should I repair a heater in a house built in the late 1970s?
Census-based figures put Poway's median home at about 1978, so the heater in most houses has already been replaced at least once. The question is how the current unit is doing. A heater that is dry, reasonably young and has one bad part is a strong repair candidate. A tank with rust at the top connections, a wet base or a history of repeated service calls is usually better replaced. Older homes may also have aging shutoff valves and supply connectors worth changing while the water is off.
Who handles permits if the heater has to be replaced?
The City of Poway Building Division, which contracts plan check, permitting and inspection to EsGil Corporation. Submittals are electronic only, through City of Poway Online Services, and Building Services can be reached at 858-668-4645. A routine repair to a heater that stays in place is a different job from a replacement, and the plumber can tell you which one you are looking at. For gas safety, if you ever smell gas, leave the house first and then call 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343 from a safe distance.
One local note
Poway is inland, and winter mornings are cooler than along the coast. Colder supply water exposes a weak element or a sediment-choked tank quickly, so early winter is when many marginal Poway heaters finally quit. A flush and anode check in the warmer months can head that off.
Water Heater Repair questions in Poway
How hard is the local water, and how does it affect a water heater?
How often should a tank water heater be drained and flushed?
What does a thermal expansion tank do, and do I need one?
What details help when I call about a broken water heater?
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