No hot water? Most calls are a repair — not a replacement.
Somebody selling you a new water heater has a reason to skip the diagnosis. We test the actual failed part first, tell you what it is, and put the repair price in writing before touching a wrench.
The repairs we make every week.
Gas water heaters
- • Pilot won't light or stay lit (thermocouple, gas valve)
- • Burner cycles off early (venting, air intake, flame sensor)
- • Gas smell at the unit — turn off the gas and call us now
- • Rumbling or popping (sediment flush)
Electric water heaters
- • Tripped breaker or reset button (often a failing element)
- • Heating element replacement (upper, lower, or both)
- • Bad thermostat — scalding or lukewarm swings
- • Hot water runs out fast (failed dip tube or bottom element)
- • Leaks at fittings, shut-off valves, T&P relief, or the drain valve — usually fixable without a new tank
- • Rusty or rotten-egg-smelling hot water (anode rod replacement)
- • Expansion tank failure (waterlogged or ruptured bladder)
- • Tankless error codes, scale buildup, and descaling service
If the tank itself is leaking, or it's 8–10+ years old with a major failure, a repair is money down the drain — and we'll say so before you spend it. See the full repair vs. replace decision guide, or the honest math on going tankless.
How a repair call works.
- • We test the actual components — not a glance-and-quote from the doorway
- • You get the diagnosis in plain English: what failed, why, and what it costs
- • Price in writing before any work starts — no surprise line items
- • Trucks stocked with elements, thermostats, gas valves, and T&P valves — most repairs finish the same visit
- • Most parts and labor warrantied unless otherwise noted — certain conditions may compromise the integrity of the work
Tankless maintenance & descaling.
Tankless heaters are efficient, but Hill Country hard water takes a toll. We provide professional descaling services to flush calcium and lime out of your heat exchanger, restoring efficiency and preventing expensive failure. Error codes, cold-water sandwich, or lukewarm output usually mean scale — all fixable without replacing the unit. We service all major brands.
Why Hill Country Homeowners Call Cowboy
Parts on the Truck
We stock heating elements, thermostats, gas valves, T&P valves, and expansion tanks. Most repairs are completed the same visit.
Diagnose Before Recommending
We test the actual failed component first. We won't tell you to replace a water heater if an inexpensive part is all that's wrong.
Warrantied Work
Most parts and labor are warrantied unless otherwise noted. Certain conditions may compromise the integrity of the work — we'll tell you when that applies.
Recent water heater jobs from the truck
Real recent work in this category, with photos and a plain-English write-up.
50 Gallon ENT Installation
Removed old heater and installed new 50-gallon ENT with expansion tank setup.
Replace Expansion Tank
Replaced punctured expansion tank and installed new setup with flexes and a vacuum breaker.
Replace 50-Gallon Water Heaters
Provided and installed two new water heaters and brought them up to code.
Questions Homeowners Ask
Should I repair or replace my water heater?
If it's under 6 years old and the leak isn't from the tank itself, a repair is usually the smartest move. If the tank is leaking from the bottom, it needs replacement.
Why is my water heater making a popping or rumbling noise?
That's usually sediment buildup at the bottom of the tank. The burner is essentially boiling the water through a layer of rock, causing those sounds. A flush can help if caught early.
My pilot light won't stay lit — what's wrong?
The most common culprit is a faulty gas valve or igniter. These are routine repairs we handle on the same day in most cases.
Do you repair tankless water heaters too?
Yes. We carry some parts and can diagnose most tankless issues on-site, though some repairs require ordering specific parts after diagnosis. Our technicians are trained to work on Rinnai, Navien & Rheem tankless units.
Water Heater Repair Service Area
We repair water heaters across Central Texas including:
New Braunfels · Canyon Lake · Seguin · San Marcos · Kyle · Buda · Boerne · Spring Branch · Bulverde · Northeast & Northwest San Antonio
Cold shower this morning? Let's fix the part that actually failed.
Honest diagnosis first, repair price in writing, and most fixes done the same visit.