Repair or replace, honestly
When is a water heater not worth repairing?
Three cases. The tank body is leaking, which is not repairable. The unit is near the end of its expected life and the repair is a large part of a replacement. Or the same unit has already had multiple repairs. Outside those, repair is usually the better spend and we will tell you so.
Why did mine fail earlier than the warranty suggested?
Valley water is at the hard end of the national scale, 291 parts per million by the water district figure. Scale and sediment accumulate faster here than in the conditions a generic service life assumes, and they are the mechanism that shortens tank life. That is also the argument for softening if you are replacing the unit anyway.
Can you work on any brand?
We repair gas and electric water heaters across makes and models. We are not an authorised warranty centre for any manufacturer, so if your unit is still inside a manufacturer warranty, check that route first: it may cost you less than calling us.