Short answer
Water Heater Facts is an information library run by Strive LeadGen LLC. It is not a plumbing company and does not install or repair water heaters. We explain problems, costs and rules using cited sources, and when you ask, we can connect you with one independent licensed plumber, who may pay us for the introduction.
What this site is
Water Heater Facts is a learning library for homeowners with a water heater question: why it stopped working, what an error code means, how old it is, whether to repair or replace it, and what that should cost. Each page answers one question, puts the direct answer first, and cites where every number and rule comes from.
The site is run by Strive LeadGen LLC.
What this site is not
We are not a plumbing company. Strive LeadGen LLC does not install, repair, replace or service water heaters, does not employ plumbers, and does not perform plumbing work of any kind. When a page says a job needs "a licensed plumber," it means an independent professional you hire directly.
How we make money
Some homeowners want help finding a plumber. When you ask us to, we can connect you with an independent, licensed plumbing contractor in your area. That contractor may pay Strive LeadGen LLC for the introduction. We tell you the contractor's name before we share any of your details, and you are never obligated to hire them. The full disclosure is on How we match.
That business model is the reason the library exists, and it is also the reason we keep the two apart. Referral payments do not change what our pages say. A page that tells you a $20 part will fix your heater, or that you do not need a pro, stays that way.
How we write and check pages
- Primary sources first: manufacturers' manuals and service documents, government agencies such as the Department of Energy, the IRS and ENERGY STAR, building codes, state statutes, city permit offices and utilities.
- Costs are dated ranges from named sources, never quotes or promises.
- Error code tables are paraphrased in our own words and link to the maker's document.
- Safety comes first. Gas, electrical, venting and relief valve work is sent to licensed pros. Pages about gas start with what to do if you smell it.
- Expert review is pending. Each page shows "Expert review pending" until a named, credentialed expert has reviewed it.
The details are in our editorial policy.
Found a mistake?
Tell us. We check every report, fix verified errors within 5 business days, and log the change. See corrections.