Should I repair or replace my water heater?

If the tank is leaking, replace. If a part failed on a young heater, repair. If the repair is half a new heater on a 12-year tank, replace. That is the order.

How long do water heaters last?

Tank heaters are often in a 10–15 year band in trade practice. This page does not invent a field study. Age is an input you type.

Is a leaking T&P valve a leaking tank?

No. T&P is a part. A wet jacket from the tank body is the vessel.

HyrePlumber tools

Repair or replace, starting with whether the tank is leaking

The vessel is the product. A leaking tank body is a replace. An 8-year-old with a $180 element is a repair. Age and a 50% heuristic are secondary. Energy-factor arithmetic is a different tool.

The tank is the product You cannot patch a leaking water-heater vessel. Anode, element, thermostat, T&P valve and gas valve are parts. The 50% line is a heuristic, not a law.

Pick what failed, type the two quotes, type the age. A leaking tank returns replace regardless of age. Two other thresholds — repair ≥ 50% of replacement, age ≥ 12 with a non-trivial failure — lean replace. HyrePlumber does not work on water heaters.

What failed, then the two quotes

A leaking tank short-circuits the rest. Nothing is emailed.

— Call

— Repair as a share of replacement

— Thresholds

What this assumed —

A leaking tank is a replace. HyrePlumber does not work on water heaters.

Questions this calculator answers

Should I repair or replace my water heater?: If the tank is leaking, replace. If a part failed on a young heater, repair. If the repair is half a new heater on a 12-year tank, replace. That is the order.
How long do water heaters last?: Tank heaters are often in a 10–15 year band in trade practice. This page does not invent a field study. Age is an input you type.
Is a leaking T&P valve a leaking tank?: No. T&P is a part. A wet jacket from the tank body is the vessel.

Sources and methodology

Figures dated 23 August 2026. Last reviewed August 16, 2026.

Water heater safety — T&P valve (CPSC, retrieved 2026-08-23. Cited for T&P as a safety device, not as a repair-price source. Do not cap a T&P valve.)

Is this a plumbing emergency? A tank-body leak is a replace after you stop the water. Shutoff first.
Water heater sizing If you are replacing, size the next one on first-hour rating.
Tank vs tankless Replacement is the moment tankless is actually a decision.

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What failed, then the two quotes

Questions this calculator answers

Sources and methodology

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