Water heater replacement, done in one visit
When a water heater goes, you want hot water back and a straight answer on cost. Here is how a replacement goes with us:
- You call. Tell us what you have: gas or electric, the tank size on the label, and what it is doing.
- We give you a price. You approve the cost before any work starts.
- We swap it. The old tank is drained and removed. The new one is set, connected, and brought up to current code.
- We test it. We check for gas and water leaks, light it, and make sure it is heating before we leave.
We offer same-day service in Salt Lake County.
What a proper install includes
A water heater is a gas appliance with a pressure vessel on top. The details matter, and they are what an inspector looks at:
- Gas line and shutoff, with a sediment trap, checked for leaks
- Venting that drafts properly, so exhaust goes outside and not into the house
- Temperature and pressure relief valve with a drain line run to a safe spot
- Expansion tank, on homes with a pressure regulator or check valve at the meter
- Earthquake straps, which Utah requires because of the Wasatch Fault
- A drain pan, where the tank sits somewhere a leak could do damage
- New water connections and shutoff
If your old heater is missing any of these, the price we give you includes bringing it up to code.
Repair or replace?
We will tell you which one makes sense, even when the answer is the cheaper one.
Repair it if the tank is not leaking and it is under about 8 years old. A pilot that will not stay lit, no hot water on an electric unit, or a leaking relief valve are usually parts problems. Parts are cheap next to a new tank.
Replace it if water is coming from the tank itself. Also replace it if the heater is 10 to 12 years old and starting to act up, or if you see rust in the hot water. A tank that fails all at once can put 40 or 50 gallons on your floor.
Signs your water heater is on its way out
- Water around the base of the tank
- Rust-colored hot water
- Rumbling or popping when it heats, which is scale on the bottom of the tank
- Hot water that runs out faster than it used to
- A date on the label that is more than 10 years old
Hard water is the main thing that kills water heaters in the Salt Lake Valley. Scale settles in the tank, the burner has to heat through it, and the tank wears out early. A water softener is the fix for that.
Thinking about tankless?
If your tank is due anyway, it is a good time to look at a tankless water heater. It costs more up front and needs a larger gas line, but it does not run out of hot water. Right now a tankless install comes with a free water softener, plus up to 20% off the package.
Where we install water heaters
Same-day water heater service covers Salt Lake County, including Sandy, West Jordan, Salt Lake City, South Jordan, Taylorsville, West Valley City, Murray, Draper, Riverton and Herriman. See all service areas.