My water heater stopped working so I called Maitz (who had done other work in my home... None with stellar results, but they bought out a bunch of local plumbers so the options were limited). The guy who came not only checked out my water heater, but also looked into my whole house filter (which had been installed by Maitz) for a problem (eating too much salt) that I was having. This happened on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.
His diagnosis: the water heater needed a part (the starter controller or something like that) that would cost about $600 and he recommended just replacing the entire unit. He wrote up an estimate for $2,100 to replace the water heater (a gas-fed model). He pressed me hard to sign it and said he could get the job done in the next 2 days. I asked: "so without fixing this I'm basically out of hot water?" His answer: "yes." While he checked out the water filter I messed around with the heater near the part where he identified the problem. After playing around I pulled the plug, waited a bit the re-inserted it. Lo and behold, it started back up (the pilot went back on). I asked: "So, it looks like it's working now." His response: "Yes, it will work for one tank-ful then won't continue." So his answer to "I'm completely out of water was WRONG." END RESULT: After my genius fix the heater has performed flawlessly, without buying a new water heater for $2,100 (and I was quoted $1,600 for the same unit by my gas company when I called them a couple days later).
As for the house water filter: he insisted that I need a new part (a head on top of one of the tanks) that would cost $600 or so. I sent him away and said I would think about it. I called another company that specializes in water filters who came a couple weeks later. The guy (a real pro) said that nothing was wrong with the filter, and that the problem I was having was due to water (a toilet or something) running continuously.
Maitz are a bunch of criminals who only look to up-sell you things that you don't need.
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