Water Heater Repair and Installation in Georgia

Most homes heat water with one of three appliances: a gas tank heater, an electric tank heater or a tankless unit. Water heater repair and installation spans all three, but they fail in different ways and are fixed with different parts, so the first useful step is knowing which one you have.

Telling gas, electric and tankless apart

A gas tank heater has a metal flue pipe rising from the top, a gas line with a shutoff valve running to a control on the front, and a small access panel near the bottom where the burner sits. An electric tank heater has no flue; a heavy cable enters at the top, and there are usually two covered panels on the side for the upper and lower elements. A tankless heater is a wall-mounted box with no storage tank at all; gas models are vented, electric models have heavy wiring instead.

Gas tank heaters

Gas heater problems usually involve the burner, the pilot or electronic ignition, the flame sensor or thermocouple, the gas control valve or the venting. A pilot that will not stay lit, a burner that lights and then shuts off, or soot around the burner door all point here. A flue that is disconnected, rusted through or blocked can let combustion gases into the house, so vent problems are treated as urgent. If you ever smell gas, leave the house and call the gas utility or 911 from outside before calling a plumber.

Electric tank heaters

Most electric heaters have an upper and a lower element, each with its own thermostat, plus a high-limit switch that cuts power if the water gets too hot. Lukewarm water that runs out quickly often means one element has failed; no hot water at all can mean a tripped breaker, a tripped high-limit or a failed upper element. Before anyone opens the access panels, the breaker for the heater has to be off, because the terminals behind them carry high voltage.

Tankless units

Tankless heaters warm water as it flows, so their problems look different: water that turns cold partway through a shower, an error code on the display, or a unit that cannot keep up when two fixtures run at once. Mineral scale builds up in the heat exchanger, and periodic descaling per the manufacturer’s instructions is part of normal care. Switching from a tank to tankless often means resizing the gas line, venting or electrical service, and the unit is sized by flow rate and temperature rise rather than by gallons.

Signs that apply to every type

Rusty hot water can come from a corroding tank or a worn anode rod. Rumbling or popping from a tank usually means sediment on the bottom. Water dripping from the temperature and pressure relief valve can signal excess pressure or temperature, or a worn valve; it is a safety device and should never be capped. A puddle under the tank itself, rather than at a fitting, usually means the tank has failed, and if water has spread across finished floors, look into water damage restoration.

Repair or replace, and what to get in writing

Elements, thermostats, ignition parts, valves and anode rods can be replaced on a heater that is otherwise sound. A leaking tank cannot be repaired, and an older heater that needs a major part is often a candidate for replacement. Either way, the written estimate should state the heater type and size and what is wrong. For a replacement it should also list the model, any venting, gas or electrical changes, whether an expansion tank and drain pan are included, and removal of the old unit. Replacing a water heater may need a permit, so ask the building department for the city or county that covers the address. Ask for the manufacturer’s warranty terms on a new unit in writing. In a new house or an addition, the heater is planned with the rest of the system under new construction plumbing.

Water heaters by city

Each city guide explains the three heater types and links to gas, electric and tankless service there.

Questions about water heaters

Why does my hot water run out faster than it used to?

On a tank heater, sediment on the bottom takes up room and insulates the water from the burner, so less usable hot water is stored. On an electric heater, a failed lower element is a frequent cause. A broken dip tube, which lets incoming cold water mix at the top of the tank, does the same. If the household’s use has grown, the heater may simply be too small for it now.

Is a tankless water heater a good replacement for a tank?

It can be, depending on the house. Tankless units supply hot water on demand and take up less space, but the gas supply, venting or electrical capacity has to be sized for them, and they must be matched to the number of fixtures that run at the same time. Regular descaling is part of owning one. A site visit shows what the change would involve before you commit.

What should I do if my water heater is leaking?

Close the cold water supply valve above the heater so it stops refilling. Then turn off the heat source: set a gas heater’s control to off or close its gas valve, or switch off the breaker for an electric heater. Contain the water with towels or a bucket, keep people away from wet electrical connections, and have a plumber confirm whether a fitting or the tank itself is leaking.

Hot water trouble

Tell us the heater type, its rough age and what it is doing, and we can help you weigh repair against replacement. Call (404) 409-4448, or use the online request form.