Here’s When to Call a Plumber — and When You Might Not Have To

Your water suddenly goes cold.
The shower hisses.
You check the heater — and you’re not even sure what you’re looking at.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
As a plumber, I get calls every week from folks in Sacramento asking the same question:

“Do I really need to call someone for this… or is it something simple?”

Let me walk you through what I tell my customers — before they spend money they might not need to.

First, Know Your System

Do you have:

• A tank-style water heater?
• Or a tankless (on-demand) model?

They have different issues — but the first rule applies to both:

If there’s water leaking or burning smells — stop reading and call someone.
That’s not a wait-and-see situation.

But for everything else? Let’s break it down.

No Hot Water at All?

Check this first:

• Electric heater? Look for a tripped breaker.
• Gas heater? Check if the pilot light is on.
• Tankless? Look for an error code or flashing light.

If the pilot is out and you’re comfortable relighting it safely (read: not guessing) — try it.
If it doesn’t stay lit? You’ll need a plumber.

❗ Rule of thumb:
No hot water + no obvious fix = call.

Hot Water Comes and Goes (Inconsistent Heat)

This is a common one — and usually a warning sign.

Possible causes:

• Thermostat going bad
• Sediment buildup inside the tank
• Burner issue (gas unit)
• Flow sensor glitch (tankless)
• Incoming cold water pressure fluctuations

Could you ignore it for a bit? Sure.
But these symptoms usually get worse, not better.

Suggestion: Call before it fails completely — repairs are cheaper early.

You See a Leak Around the Base

That’s a big one.

If water is pooling under your unit, and it’s not from nearby pipes — it might be the tank itself.
And unfortunately, when a tank leaks… there’s no fix.
It’s time to replace the unit.

Even a slow drip can turn into a flood.

Immediate plumber call.

Smell Gas or Burning? Hear Strange Noises?

Don’t wait.

• Gas smell? Leave the area. Call the gas company.
• Burning smell? Shut it down and call a pro.
• Rumbling, popping, hissing? Likely sediment buildup or overheating.

Noise alone isn’t always an emergency — but it’s a red flag.
It’s your water heater asking for help.

When You Don’t Need a Plumber (Yet)

Here are a few things to try before calling:

• Water isn’t hot enough? Check the thermostat — many are set too low by default.
• Rusty water? Try flushing the tank (if you’re comfortable doing that safely).
• Low pressure? Check other taps — it might be a valve issue, not the heater.
• Tankless acting weird? Power cycle the unit and see if it clears.

If these don’t help — then yeah, time to bring someone in.

Who Should You Call?

Hot water issues can overlap with electrical, HVAC, or plumbing.
But in 90% of cases, a licensed plumber is the one to call — especially if:

• You need parts replaced
• There’s water damage risk
• You’re unsure of the problem
• It’s a gas-powered unit

And always ask:
Are you licensed, insured, and experienced with this type of unit?
(Yes, that includes us at Golden Valley Plumbing.)

What We Do at Golden Valley Plumbing

When we get a hot water call, we:

• Ask questions first — to see if you even need us
• Walk you through what you can check safely
• Show up with the right tools, parts, and experience
• Fix the issue, not just patch it

We’ve worked on every type of system — tank, tankless, gas, electric — and we won’t waste your time.

Got water heater problems? Call Golden Valley Plumbing — we’ll help you figure out what’s going on before anything gets worse.

Final Thought

You don’t always need a plumber.
But when you do — you want one who tells you the truth, not just the price.