Should I repair or replace my water heater?

The general rule: if your water heater is under 6–7 years old and the repair is under half the cost of replacement, repair makes sense. If it's over 10 years old, repair costs are usually better put toward a new unit — especially since efficiency has improved significantly.

Vinson and Sill will always show you both numbers. We don't push replacement when a repair is the right call, and we don't recommend a repair that's really just delaying the inevitable.