Licensed & Insured · CA LIC #982663
Open 24/7 · Mon-Sun
Pacifica, San Francisco, Burlingame, CA · Serving the Bay
PACIFICA, CA • LIC #982663 • 24/7
We answer the phone day, night, weekends, and holidays, with same-day service across the Peninsula.
Works Plumbing provides water heater repair in Redwood City, CA for gas and electric tanks. We trace the symptom to its cause, fix the part that failed, and check the pressure side of the system so the same problem does not come back next month.
Upfront pricing. Same-day service. No obligation.
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Key Takeaways
Start with what you are seeing. This table covers the calls we get most often.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| No hot water, gas unit | Pilot out, failed thermocouple or flame sensor | Replace sensor or pilot assembly |
| No hot water, electric unit | Tripped breaker, failed element or thermostat | Test and replace the failed part |
| Hot water runs out fast | Failed lower element, broken dip tube, sediment | Replace part, flush tank |
| Popping or rumbling | Sediment on the tank bottom | Flush and inspect |
| Relief valve drips | High system pressure or thermal expansion | Test pressure, service expansion tank |
| Water around the base | Fitting, drain valve, or tank leak | Repair fitting or valve; tank leak means replacement |
| Rotten egg smell | Reaction at the anode rod | Anode replacement |
A table only gets you so far. The visit is where we confirm it.
Every visit follows the same order, so nothing gets skipped.
1. Ask and listen. When did it start? Did anything change, such as new plumbing work or a replaced meter or regulator?
2. Inspect safety items first. We check the gas connector and shutoff, the vent connection, the relief valve and its discharge line, and the seismic straps.
3. Test the heating side. On gas units we test the thermocouple or flame sensor, gas control, and burner. On electric units we test elements and thermostats with a meter.
4. Test the pressure side. We read static water pressure and check the expansion tank’s air charge.
5. Quote and repair. You see the price first. Then we make the repair and confirm hot water at a fixture.
Our trucks carry the common wear parts for major tank brands, so many repairs finish in one trip:
The City’s 2025 water quality report lists average hardness of 62 ppm, which is soft. Heavy scale is not the usual story here. Sediment still collects in tanks that are never flushed, and we flush when it is causing noise or slow recovery.
An expansion tank can fail quietly. These clues help us confirm it on the visit:
Replacing a failed expansion tank is a short job. We set its air charge to match your house pressure before connecting it.
We repair when the tank is sound. A few conditions change that advice:
When replacement wins, our team handles the full job, including the City permit. Read more on our water heater installation page for Redwood City. If the gas piping upstream of the heater is damaged, our Redwood City gas line repair service covers that part.
Then contact Works Plumbing. We offer same-day service and 24/7 emergency service.
We have been family owned and operated since 2009. From our Pacifica base we serve the whole Peninsula. With every repair you get:
We repair water heaters in every Redwood City neighborhood, including Redwood Shores, Woodside Plaza, the Farm Hill Road area, Friendly Acres, and Downtown. See the full list of local services on our Redwood City plumbing page, or learn more about our water heater repair service.
Why does my relief valve drip after a new pressure regulator was installed?
A regulator closes the system, so expanding hot water cannot flow back toward the main. Redwood City requires an expansion tank on any system with a regulator, check valve, or backflow preventer. If one is missing or waterlogged, the relief valve releases the pressure instead.
Can I just replace the relief valve myself?
You can, but if the cause is thermal expansion, a new valve will drip too. We test system pressure first so you pay for the fix that holds.
Does a repair need a City permit?
A repair that replaces a part inside the existing heater is usually not permit work. The City requires a permit to install, replace, raise, lower, or relocate a water heater. We tell you which side of that line your job falls on before we start.
Is Redwood City water hard on water heaters?
Not especially. The City’s 2025 report lists average hardness of 62 ppm, which is soft. Sediment still builds over the years, so we recommend a yearly flush.
My home is served by Cal Water instead of the City. Does that matter?
Portions of Redwood City are in Cal Water’s Bear Gulch District. In 2025 that district bought all its water from the same San Francisco regional system the City uses. The repair process is the same either way.
Do you repair water heaters in Redwood Shores condos and townhomes?
Yes. In attached homes a leaking heater can reach a neighbor’s ceiling or wall quickly. Shut the cold supply and call us. We check the pan and drain as part of the repair.
A cold shower is fixable, and so is a relief valve that will not stop dripping. Book water heater repair in Redwood City and get an upfront price before we start.
We’re highly experienced with: Leak detection Drain cleaning Drain repair Rooter services Water heaters Sprinkler systems Tankless water heaters Toilet repair & installation Faucet repair & installation Shower repair & installation Trenchless sewer repairs Camera inspections Garbage disposals Gas lines Gas valves Burst pipes Pipe repair Sump pumps Sewer repairs Hydro jetting Pipelining Plumbing repairs
Navien® Water Heaters Works Plumbing is your top plumber San Francisco & Peninsula area that specializes in installing high-quality Navien tankless water heating systems. Navien is a global leader in energy-efficient and water-saving technology, and if you purchase a Navien system, we have the extensive training to properly install it in your Northern California home. With our quick and affordable installation services, you can immediately start enjoying dependable hot water, lower maintenance and energy costs, and a long-lasting product. To learn more, give Works Plumbing a call today! Plumbing Repair Toilet Repair Shower Repair Hydro Jetting Camera Inspection Leak Detection Gas Line Repair Trenchless Pipe Repair Water Line Repair Sump Pumps Garbage Disposal Drain Cleaning Faucet Repair Hot Water Heater Repair Tankless Water Heaters
Snap a photo of the problem before you call, it helps us bring the right parts on the first visit.
See how we handle it:
Upfront pricing, licensed techs, and a real human on the phone 24/7 across the Peninsula.
A look at real Works jobs around the Peninsula.
A dripping relief valve is one of the most misread water heater symptoms.
The real cause is often thermal expansion. Water grows in volume as it heats. In an open system, that extra water pushes back toward the city main. Once a check valve, backflow preventer, or pressure regulator is in the line, the system is closed. The expanding water has nowhere to go, so pressure climbs with every heating cycle until the relief valve opens.
The City of Redwood City Replacement Water Heaters handout addresses this directly. It states an expansion tank is required for any system with a check valve, backflow preventer, or pressure regulator, with no exceptions, citing California Plumbing Code 608.3.
On a repair call, that rule points to three suspects:
We at Works Plumbing put a gauge on the system and watch pressure through a heating cycle. That reading separates a worn relief valve from an expansion problem.
We also serve these neighboring Peninsula towns.
We’ve earned our reputation one happy homeowner at a time.
“Thank you again for another job well done, and thank you for responding right away. I will continue to recommend Works Plumbing because they respond right away and get the job done efficiently.”
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Drain cleared or it’s free. Limit one per household.rnrn
Mention this offer when you schedule EXPIRES 12/31/2026Save $500 on a new tankless water heater install.rnrn
Mention this offer when you schedule Expires 12/31/2026With any drain cleaning service over $250. See the problem yourself.
Mention this offer when you schedule Expires 12/31/2026Thank you for your service. Ongoing: no expiration.
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