Golden Rule Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Same-Day Water Heater Service · Des Moines Metro (515) 310-1425

Get Your Hot Water Back

Tell us what your water heater is doing and a dispatcher will call you right back.

Water pooling around the tank right now? Don’t fill out a form — call (515) 310-1425 now.
Preferred Communication

No obligation. We never sell your information.

Same-Day Service — No Overtime Charges

No Hot Water? Repaired or Replaced — Often the Same Day

Cold showers, a tank that is leaking, or hot water that runs out in five minutes. A licensed Golden Rule plumber diagnoses it, tells you honestly whether it is worth repairing, and hands you the price in writing before anything starts.

  • Same-day service usually available — and we answer 24/7
  • No overtime charges on nights, weekends or holidays
  • Repair and replacement options priced side by side, in writing
  • Gas, electric and tankless · 100% satisfaction guarantee
Call (515) 310-1425

Family owned · Serving Central Iowa since 1999 · 100+ trucks in the metro

4.9★
9,500+ local reviews
A+
BBB accredited
24/7
Someone answers
100+
Trucks in the metro
$0
Overtime charges
What yours is doing

The symptoms we get called out for.

Most of these are fixable. A few of them mean the tank is telling you it is done. We will tell you honestly which one you have.

No hot water at all

On gas, that is usually a pilot, thermocouple or gas valve. On electric, it is usually a heating element or a tripped high-limit reset. All of those are repairs, not replacements.

Hot water runs out fast

You used to get a full shower and now you get five minutes. Typically a failed lower element, a broken dip tube, or years of sediment stealing the bottom third of the tank.

Water around the base of the tank

Trace it first — a dripping fitting or relief valve is a repair. Water weeping from the body of the tank is a failed tank, and that one only gets worse.

Rusty, brown or smelly hot water

Rust-colored hot water usually means the tank is corroding from the inside. A rotten-egg smell is normally a spent anode rod reacting with the water — often fixable on its own.

Popping, rumbling or banging

That is sediment baked onto the bottom of the tank boiling underneath. It burns fuel you are paying for and shortens the life of the heater. A flush usually quiets it down.

You smell gas near the heater

Get everyone out of the house first. Do not flip switches or use your phone inside. From outside, call 911 and your gas utility. Once the area is safe, call us for the repair.

The honest answer

Repair it, or replace it?

Nobody should sell you a new water heater over one failed part. Here is the same rule of thumb our plumbers use in your basement.

Under 8 years old, one failed partThermocouple, igniter, heating element, thermostat or gas valve. The tank still has years left in it.Repair it
8 to 12 years oldWorth pricing both ways. We show you the repair and the replacement side by side and let you pick.Your call — both prices
Over 12 years oldA typical tank lasts 8–12 years in Iowa water. Past that, repair money tends to go into a tank that fails soon anyway.Usually replace
Leaking from the body of the tankNot a fitting, not the relief valve — the tank itself. There is no repair for this, at any age.Replace
Rusty hot water, or already repaired twiceInterior corrosion and repeat failures are the tank telling you where this is going.Usually replace
Noisy and slow to recover, but holding waterOften just sediment. A flush and a fresh anode rod can buy real years — ask us before you spend on a new one.Service it first
Not sure how old yours is? We read the serial number. (515) 310-1425

Every water heater is different, so this is guidance rather than a promise. The plumber confirms it on site and you get the real numbers before you decide anything.

Tank or tankless

If you are replacing, you have a choice to make.

We install both. Which one is right depends on your house, not on what we would rather sell.

Standard tank

Lower up-front cost, simplest swap, and it drops into the same space using the same gas line and venting. The right answer for most Des Moines homes that just need hot water back today.

Tankless

Endless hot water, a much smaller footprint, and a longer service life. Costs more up front and often needs upgraded gas supply and new venting, so we price the whole job, not just the unit.

Gas or electric

We generally replace like for like unless you want to change fuel. Converting is possible but it is a bigger project, and we will tell you what it actually involves before you commit.

Sizing it right

Too small and you run out mid-shower. Too big and you pay to keep water hot that nobody uses. We size it to the bathrooms and people in your house, not to a shelf label.

How it works

From your call to hot water again.

Six steps, one licensed crew, and a price you sign off on before anyone touches a wrench.

1

You call, a person answers

No phone tree. Tell us what the heater is doing and, if it is leaking, we will tell you what to shut off right now.

2

We dispatch the nearest truck

With 100+ trucks across the metro, dispatch sends whoever can reach you soonest and gives you a real arrival window.

3

Diagnosis on site

A licensed Golden Rule plumber tests the actual failure — and reads the serial so you know exactly how old the tank is.

4

Repair and replace, priced together

You get both numbers in writing wherever both are realistic, with the trade-offs explained. Nothing starts until you approve one.

5

Installed to code, same day where we can

Trucks carry common tanks and parts. Replacements include proper venting, connections and expansion tank, permitted where required.

6

Tested, hauled away, cleaned up

We fire it up, check for leaks, take the old unit with us, and leave your space the way we found it — backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Why it matters who you call

A water heater is an easy thing to get oversold on.

You have no hot water and you want it back. That is exactly when the industry does its worst pricing. Here is how we handle it.

We quote the repair too

If the tank has life left in it, you hear that — with the repair price next to the replacement price. What you do with the two numbers is your decision, not ours.

No overtime charges

Nights, weekends and holidays are priced the same as a Tuesday afternoon. A tank does not care what time it fails, and neither does your invoice.

Licensed plumbers on our payroll

The person coming to your house is a Golden Rule employee — background-checked and trained — not a subcontractor we found for the day.

Guaranteed work, with financing

Every job is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. When a repair turns into a replacement, financing is available on approved credit.

Still out of hot water?

Tell us what it is doing and we will tell you what it takes to fix it. Same-day service is usually available.

(515) 310-1425

From our neighbors

4.9 stars across 9,500+ Google reviews.

Recent reviews from Des Moines metro homeowners we did water heater work for.

★★★★★

“We are always very happy with golden rule. They’ve replaced our AC unit in the past and now water heater today. They’re always kind, helpful and give us all the information up front. Bobby was so great to work with today, and got us in same day!”

Janae & Quentin Erickson · Google
★★★★★

“… I was trying to decide between a traditional water heater and a tankless water heater. Our plumber Spencer took the time to explain the options and the advantages and disadvantages of each option. I ended up deciding on a tankless water heater. The crew that worked on the installation for the water heater was professional and friendly and the water heater is working great.”

Reed Anderson · Google
★★★★★

“My basement flooded last week and I had to have my water heater replaced for a second time in less than 5 months! The technicians on the job did great and got my hot water back in no time. I appreciate the work they did and hope I don’t have any more problems in the near future.”

Jacob LeClair · Google

Reviews are pulled from our Google Business Profile and are unedited, except where an excerpt is marked. Read all 9,500+ reviews on Google →

Common questions

Water heaters, answered.

Can you get my hot water back today?
Usually, yes. Our trucks carry the common repair parts and the most common tank sizes, so a large share of water heater calls are finished on the first visit. It depends on the day’s call volume and on what your heater needs — the dispatcher will give you a real arrival window on the phone rather than a vague promise.
How much does a water heater repair or replacement cost?
We will not quote a water heater honestly over the phone, because the price depends on what failed, the size and fuel type, and what the existing venting and connections look like. Here is the commitment instead: a licensed plumber diagnoses it on site and gives you the price in writing — repair and replacement side by side where both make sense — and no work starts until you approve it.
Should I repair my water heater or replace it?
As a rule of thumb: under 8 years old with one failed part, repair it. Over 12 years old, replacement is usually the better use of the money. Between 8 and 12, it is worth seeing both prices. If the tank itself is leaking, there is no repair at any age. Our plumber reads the serial number so you know exactly how old yours is instead of guessing.
How long should a water heater last?
A standard tank water heater typically lasts 8 to 12 years. Hard water and skipped maintenance shorten that, and an annual flush lengthens it. Tankless units generally last considerably longer when they are descaled on schedule.
My water heater is leaking — what do I do right now?
Close the cold water inlet valve on top of the tank, then cut power to it: flip the breaker for an electric heater, or turn the gas control to Pilot or Off on a gas heater. Do not try to drain it yourself. Then call us. If water is spreading across the floor, never reach into standing water for a plug or a breaker.
Do you charge extra for nights, weekends or holidays?
No. Golden Rule does not add overtime charges. A water heater that fails on Sunday night is priced the same as the same job on a Tuesday afternoon, and you see the price in writing before we start.
Do you install tankless water heaters?
Yes — gas, electric and tankless. Tankless gives you endless hot water in a much smaller footprint, but it often requires upgraded gas supply and new venting, so we price the complete installation rather than just the unit. We will tell you plainly whether your house is a good candidate.
Is financing available?
Yes. Financing is available on approved credit with monthly payment options, which matters when a repair turns into a full replacement without warning. The terms are provided in writing alongside the price.
Do you pull permits and haul away the old heater?
Yes. Replacements are installed to code by licensed plumbers, permitted where the jurisdiction requires it, and the old unit leaves with us. Expansion tanks, venting and connections are brought up to current requirements as part of the job.
What areas do you serve?
We cover the Des Moines metro and Central Iowa — Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Waukee, Johnston, Grimes, Altoona, Clive, Norwalk, Indianola, Ames and the surrounding communities listed below.
Service area

Where we install and repair water heaters.

AdelAltoonaAmesAnkenyBondurantBooneCliveColfaxDallas CenterDes MoinesGrangerGrimesIndianolaJohnstonMadridMingoMitchellvilleNevadaNewtonNorwalkPanoraPerryPleasant HillPleasantvillePolk CityStuartUrbandaleWaukeeWest Des MoinesWinterset
Golden Rule

Out of hot water? Call now.

A real person answers, day or night — and there is no overtime charge.

Call (515) 310-1425

Golden Rule Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical
904 NE Main Street, Grimes, IA 50111
Emergency dispatch 24/7 · Office Mon–Fri 7am–7pm · Sat–Sun 8am–4:30pm
goldenrulephc.com

Water heater service is available to homeowners in our Des Moines metro residential service area. Same-day service depends on call volume, parts availability and the work required, and is not guaranteed. Repair-or-replace guidance on this page is general and is confirmed on site. Pricing is presented in writing before work begins and may change based on conditions found on site, including venting, gas supply and code requirements. Financing is available on approved credit. Work is performed by licensed plumbers and permitted where required. If you smell gas, leave the building and contact 911 and your gas utility before calling us.

Call (515) 310-1425