Fixing the heater you have
Replacement is not always the answer. A heater with no heat, a dripping fitting or a rumble may be repairable, and the plumber tells you which it is.
Water Heater Repair and Installation in Raleigh
Is your heater leaking, running out of hot water or no longer heating? It can be fixed, or replaced with a new tank or tankless unit. Give us a call and we go through the choices.
Describe what the heater is doing, and its age if you know it. We then put you in touch with a plumber who works on that kind of unit.
Repair, replace or go tankless
A new tank in the same spot
A replacement tank can go where the old one stood. The plumber you hire matches the size and the fuel to your household and the connections already in place.
Switching to tankless
Tankless heaters warm water on demand and store none. Changing over can involve the gas line, the venting or the electric supply, so the plumber you hire talks through what your house has.
Looking after a tankless unit
Tankless units can be serviced and repaired as well, and the plumber you hire can work on the unit you already have.
Who can replace a water heater
A water heater installation or replacement falls under North Carolina’s plumbing licensing law and needs a state license. The State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors is the body that licenses contractors.
For a single-family detached home, the Board has a limited license covering a water heater replaced in the same location. Anyone’s license can be checked through the Board’s license search.
Permits for a water heater in Raleigh
Raleigh lists water heater replacement as a permit project, so the plumber you hire checks with the City permit office before the swap, rather than assuming a like for like change is exempt.
The City’s page lists replacement among projects that need a permit but no plans, while installing new equipment needs a plot plan. The permit goes through the City portal, and your plumber files it.
Sizing a heater for your household
The right size depends on how many people live in the house and how much hot water runs at the same time. The plumber you hire confirms the size and the fuel for your home.
Raleigh’s winter incoming water temperature feeds into the tankless flow calculator, while the water heater size calculator handles tank sizing.
How old is your heater
How old is the unit in your garage or closet? The serial number decoder turns the brand and serial number on its label into a build year and an age.
Frequently asked questions
Should I ask the City before a water heater swap?
Yes. Raleigh lists water heater replacement as a permit project, and the plumber you hire checks with the City permit office whether your swap is covered. The City lists citations, removal of the work at the owner’s cost, which may be required, and homeowner’s insurance that may not cover related issues, as risks of work without a permit.
Heaters sit at the end of the plumbing, so a leaking connection is worth reading about on the leak detection page. Worn supply lines have their own write-up under repiping, and the homepage has an entry for every other service.
Call for a free plumbing estimate
Call us to discuss your current issue and how we can assist you. The call is free and you get a free, personalized estimate with no obligation. We're here to help.
Call (855) 321-3426