Losing hot water is one of those problems that cannot really wait, and on Johns Island there is one extra thing worth checking first.
Well water is harder on water heaters
If you are on a well with iron or hardness in the water, sediment builds up in the bottom of the tank much faster than it would on treated city water. That is what causes the popping and rumbling, and it shortens the life of the heater considerably. Flushing the tank helps, and treating the water helps more.
What is usually worth repairing
A thermostat, heating element, thermocouple or gas valve on a tank under about eight years old is normally worth fixing. If an element has been replaced once already and failed again, sediment is very often the reason.
What is not
If the tank itself is leaking rather than a fitting, it has rusted through and no repair will hold. We will tell you that plainly rather than take payment for something that will not last.
Worth doing while we are there
Flushing the sediment out, checking the sacrificial anode rod and testing the pressure relief valve. On well water these make a genuine difference to how long a heater lasts.