Symptoms that call for gas water heater replacement
A tank that is leaking from the body is done. There is no patching a rusted-through steel tank. Other signs are slower, and worth acting on before the floor gets wet.
- Water pooling around the base, not from a fitting
- Rusty or brown hot water from several taps
- Popping or rumbling while the burner runs, from sediment on the bottom
- Hot water running out much faster than it did a year ago
- A tank past the age noted on its rating plate by several years
Not every hot water complaint needs a new tank. A bad thermocouple, a failed gas valve or a pilot that will not stay lit can often be fixed. Our water heater repair page covers those calls.
How the job is done
Gas and cold supply get closed, the old tank is emptied through a hose to the floor drain, and disconnect the venting, gas line and water lines. The old unit goes out the door with us.
The new tank gets set level on its spot, ideally with a drain pan where the floor is finished. We reconnect cold and hot lines, add or replace the shutoff valve if the old one is seized, install a new temperature and pressure relief valve discharge pipe, and connect the gas with a proper sediment trap. Venting is checked for correct slope and clearances, since a badly vented tank can spill exhaust into the basement.
Finally we fill the tank, purge air from the lines, light it, check for gas leaks at every joint and confirm the vent is drafting. Gas work in Ontario is regulated, and only properly certified gas technicians should be connecting the appliance.
A tank that is leaking from the body is done. There is no patching a rusted-through steel tank.
From the counter
North York housing notes
Most detached houses here have the tank in a basement utility room next to the furnace, often sharing a chimney liner or a vent. When an old mid-efficiency furnace was swapped for a high-efficiency one, the water heater can end up alone in an oversized chimney, which is a venting problem worth fixing at the same time.
Condos and some townhouses use power-vented tanks that exhaust through a side wall. Those need an electrical outlet nearby and a vent run that meets the clearances to windows and doors.
What to do before we arrive
- Clear a path from the door to the tank.
- Find out if the tank is owned or rented.
- Photograph the rating plate on the side of the old tank.
- If it is leaking, close the cold supply valve on top of the tank.
Related work
Thinking of a different type? Compare options in tank vs tankless, or see tankless installation and electric water heater replacement. For age questions, read how long a water heater lasts.
Questions
How long does a gas water heater swap take?
A straight like-for-like replacement is usually done in a few hours. Venting changes or moving the tank add time.
Can I go up a size?
Often, yes, if the gas line and venting can handle it and there is room. The plumber checks both before recommending a bigger tank.
What happens to the old tank?
We take it with us. If it is a rental, the rental company may want it back, so check with them first.
How the job runs
- You callDescribe what is dripping, backing up or cold, and the cross streets.
- We ask questionsAge of the building, pipe type if you know it, where the shut-off is.
- We open it upTrap off, clean-out open or wall cut: find the actual fault before quoting the fix.
- We test itOpen each tap on that run, watch the joints dry and show you what came out.