Water Heater Repair in Palmyra, PA
Nearly six in ten Palmyra homes were built before 1960, many of them in the 1940s and '50s, and more than a quarter still heat with oil. If your water heater has quit, is leaking or can't keep up, call and get a plumber out.
What shapes water heater trouble in Palmyra
A town of 1940s and 1950s homes
About 31% of Palmyra homes were built between 1940 and 1959, on top of 27% built earlier. Heaters in postwar houses usually stand in the basement near the furnace or boiler, sometimes sharing its chimney or flue.
When a heater that shares a flue is replaced, the venting has to suit both appliances. Expect the plumber to look at the chimney connection, not just the tank.
Oil heat in more than a quarter of homes
About 28% of Palmyra homes heat with fuel oil and 41% with gas, served by UGI. Oil homes may heat water with their own oil-fired tank or with a coil or indirect tank off the boiler, and gas homes usually have a standard gas tank.
If your burner was serviced recently and the hot water still fails, mention it. It helps the plumber narrow down whether the burner, the controls or the tank is the problem.
Hershey-system water
Palmyra Borough is part of Pennsylvania American Water's Hershey system, fed by the Swatara and Manada Creeks. The 2025 system report shows hardness averaging 86 ppm, about 5 grains per gallon, with chloramine disinfection.
Soft-to-moderate water slows scale but doesn't stop sediment. On an older tank, a dripping drain valve or popping sound is a sign to get it looked at before it fails outright.
Safe steps for Palmyra homes
- Leaking? Close the cold water valve on top of the tank.
- Turn off the gas valve or the breaker for the heater.
- Gas smell? UGI serves Palmyra Borough. Leave the house and call UGI at 800-276-2722 or 911 from outside.
Where we take calls
Palmyra, Lebanon County, ZIP codes 17078. Not sure your address is covered? Call and we'll check.
Nearby towns
Repair, replacement and emergencies
Water Heater Repair
Gas, electric and tankless repairs, from pilot lights to heating elements.
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No Hot Water
Cold shower this morning? Get the cause found and fixed fast.
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Leaking Water Heater
Water around the tank or a dripping relief valve. Act before it floods.
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Emergency Water Heater Repair
Burst tank, gas smell or water everywhere. Call right away.
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Water Heater Replacement
When repair no longer makes sense, get a new tank or tankless unit.
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Tankless Water Heater Repair
Error codes, lukewarm water and scale buildup on tankless units.
Learn morePalmyra water heater questions
Who is the gas company in Palmyra, PA?
UGI Utilities lists Palmyra Borough in its service area. If you smell gas, leave first, then call UGI at 800-276-2722 or 911 from outside.
Does Palmyra get the same water as Hershey?
Yes. Pennsylvania American Water serves Palmyra Borough through its Hershey system, which draws from the Swatara and Manada Creeks and averaged 86 ppm hardness in 2025.
My oil-fired water heater keeps shutting off. What causes that?
Common causes are a dirty nozzle or filter, a failing ignitor or a safety control tripping. A plumber who works on oil equipment can find which one.
Is it safe to keep relighting my gas pilot?
If it lights and stays lit, fine. If it goes out again soon after, stop relighting it. A worn thermocouple or a draft problem is usually to blame, and a plumber should check it.
Where these local facts come from
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 (via Census Reporter)
- NOAA NCEI, 1991-2020 climate normals
- Pennsylvania American Water, Hershey system 2025 Water Quality Report
- Pennsylvania American Water, Palmyra Borough notice (Hershey system)
- UGI Utilities, gas supply regions
Figures are the latest published by each source. Pricing and availability are set by the plumber.
No hot water in Palmyra?
Call now for water heater repair or replacement.