Water heaters

Find out why your water heater is leaking from the bottom, which causes you can fix, and when a leak means the tank needs to be replaced.

Find the age of a Bradford White water heater: the first two letters of the serial number are the year and month. Full letter chart included.

Find the age of an A. O. Smith or State water heater from the serial number: the first four digits give the year and week of manufacture.

Find the age of a Rheem, Ruud or Richmond water heater from its serial number: where the date code is, how to read it and what the age means.

A leak at the top of a water heater usually comes from a loose or corroded connection, the relief valve or the anode port. How to find and fix it.

Popping, rumbling, crackling or whistling from your water heater each point to a different cause. Here is what the noise means and how to fix it.

A rotten egg smell in your hot water usually comes from a reaction with the anode rod in your water heater. Learn how to confirm it and fix it for good.

Flush sediment out of your tank water heater in about an hour. Step-by-step instructions for gas and electric tanks, plus what to do if the drain clogs.

No hot water or only lukewarm water? Work through the most common causes for gas and electric water heaters, from the pilot to the elements.

Typical lifespan of tank and tankless water heaters, how to find your heater's age from the serial number, and the signs it is time to replace it.

What it costs to replace a water heater in 2026: tank, tankless and heat pump ranges, the upgrades that add cost, and how to compare quotes.