Skip to main content

Open 24/7 for no heat, leaks and backups

Call

Hot water tank service · open 24/7

Water Heater Repair in Richmond, BCHot 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.

Call or text (604) 764-2031
  • 5.0 on Google, 47 reviews
  • Same-day service
  • 1-year workmanship warranty
Mechanical room with a water heater, boiler and copper piping

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 run by Ed Ferreira. 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

  1. 01

    Call or text with the symptom

    Tell us gas, electric or tankless, and what you see. A photo of the label helps.

  2. 02

    We diagnose on site

    We test the heater and explain what failed in plain words.

  3. 03

    Flat price, then the work

    You get repair or replace options with one upfront price each. Nothing starts until you agree.

  4. 04

    Test, clean up, warranty

    We check for leaks, clean up and back the job with a 1-year workmanship warranty.

Hot water tank replacement cost in Richmond

These are typical ranges in Metro Vancouver, taken from public figures published by other local companies. They are not our price list. Your exact price is quoted upfront, in writing, before any work starts.

What you pay forTypical range
Diagnostic visitGeneral plumbing diagnostic range. Estimates from Encano are free.$85 to $150
Hot water tank replacementStandard residential tank, installed. Size, gas vs electric and venting change the number.$1,250 to $2,200
Water heater repair (part replacement)Depends on the part: element, thermocouple, valve or flame rod.Quoted upfront after diagnosis
Tankless water heater installationGas line size, venting and the location of the unit drive the cost.Quoted upfront after a site visit

Public market figures, not Encano prices. Tank size, fuel type, venting, a drain pan and closet access move the price.

Sources: Lew Plumbing: diagnostic and hot water tank replacement ranges

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: [CONFIRM WITH CLIENT: Technical Safety BC gas contractor licence number and gasfitter class]. 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 anything

What customers say about Ed

Google5.047 Google reviews(opens Google in a new tab)
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!

Celine Yin

Google review

Google review

  • We had a kitchen sink emergency Sunday night and Eddy saved the day. Showed up Monday morning as promised, stayed patient through a tricky clog, and clearly knew exactly what he was doing. Price was more than fair. Highly recommend Eddy if you need a plumber you can trust. Thank you very much Eddy!

    Vivian Wong

    Google review

    Google review

  • Eddie 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.

    gustavo de almeida frança

    Google review

    Google review

  • Eddie is very responsible! Best plumber in Vancouver area. I called him due to an emergency and he stopped by at the same day. I highly recommend him. 10/10

    Larissa Rodrigues

    Google review

    Google review

Water Heater Repair questions

Straight answers. If yours is not here, text it to us.

On a gas tank, the most common causes are a pilot that went out, a worn thermocouple or a dirty flame sensor. On an electric tank it is usually a failed element, a thermostat or a tripped breaker. Tankless units show an error code on the display. Check the breaker or pilot once. If it will not stay on, call us and we will diagnose it on site and quote the fix upfront.
Public figures from other Metro Vancouver companies put a standard installed tank at about $1,250 to $2,200. The final number depends on tank size, gas or electric, venting and how easy the tank is to reach. Encano gives free estimates and one flat price in writing before any work starts, including removal of the old tank.
It depends where the water comes from. A leak at a pipe fitting, the drain valve or the temperature and pressure relief valve is usually a simple repair. If the water is coming from the tank body, the steel lining has rusted through and the tank must be replaced. Shut off the cold water supply to the tank and turn off the gas or power until we arrive.
Most tanks last around 10 to 12 years. Hard use, a spent anode rod and sediment buildup shorten that. Flushing the tank and checking the anode rod can help it reach the end of its normal life. Once a tank is past that age and starts needing repairs, replacing it is usually the better spend.
It makes sense if you want hot water that does not run out, or you need the closet space back in a condo or townhouse. It costs more to install than a tank, and some homes need a larger gas line or new venting. We check your gas supply, venting route and hot water use before recommending one, and we will tell you if a tank is the smarter choice.
Yes. Strata suites and townhouses are a big part of our work in Richmond. We plan for tight access, add a drain pan and drain line where the space allows, and take the old tank out without damaging the suite. Check whether your strata needs notice before the work; we can schedule around building rules.
Encano Plumbing is licensed and insured. For gas appliance work: [CONFIRM WITH CLIENT: Technical Safety BC gas contractor licence number and gasfitter class]. If you ever smell gas near your water heater, leave the home and call FortisBC’s 24-hour emergency line at 1-800-663-9911, and 911 from outside.
Yes, same-day service is available across Richmond, and we answer emergency calls 24/7. Call or text (604) 764-2031 with the type of heater and what is happening. If replacement is needed, most tank swaps are finished the same day the new tank is on hand. We take card, cash or bank transfer.

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. Ed or the team answers 24/7 and tells you what happens next, including the price, before anyone touches a tool.

Call or text (604) 764-2031

Get a free water heater repair estimate

Tell us what is going on. We reply with next steps and a time, and the price is agreed before any work starts.

Request a free estimate

Tell us about your project and we will get back to you quickly. No pressure, no obligation.

We never share your info. Ed or the team will get back to you soon.