Water heater questions, answered

Jacksonville and nearby communities including Hubert, Swansboro, Richlands, Sneads Ferry, Holly Ridge, Maysville, Midway Park, and Half Moon. See the service areas page for details on each town.

Yes. Call or request an estimate online. There’s no obligation to go ahead with the work.

Yes, along with tankless and heat pump (hybrid) models.

Yes. If you’re a tenant, check with your landlord or property manager first, since they usually arrange and pay for water heater repairs.

On an electric heater, this usually means the lower heating element or its thermostat has failed. On either type, heavy sediment in the bottom of the tank takes up space and reduces how much hot water you get.

A slow drip from a valve or fitting can wait a day. Water coming from the tank body, or a steady leak you can’t stop, should be handled right away. Shut off the cold water supply valve on top of the tank and turn off the power or gas.

Sediment settles on the bottom of the tank, and water trapped under it boils and pops as the burner or element heats. Flushing the tank can help if the sediment hasn’t hardened.

Common brands like Rheem, A.O. Smith, Bradford White, State, and Rinnai use similar parts, and plumbers repair all of them. Some parts may need to be ordered.

A like-for-like tank swap usually takes two to four hours. Switching fuel types, relocating the heater, or adding a gas line takes longer.

Most tank water heaters last around 8 to 12 years. Hard water, sediment, and skipped maintenance shorten that. Tankless units often last 20 years.

It depends. North Carolina law lets a licensed plumber replace a heater in a one- or two-family home without a permit when it’s a like-for-like swap: same fuel, same location, same capacity, no higher energy input, no venting changes, and installed to current code. Anything else needs a permit, which the plumber normally pulls. See our licensing and permit resources page for details.

Yes. Removal and disposal of the old tank are normally part of the installation.

They don’t run out the way a tank does, but each unit can only heat so many gallons per minute. If you ask for more than that, the water gets cooler. Sizing to your household’s peak use is what matters.

That’s often called a cold-water sandwich. Water sitting in the pipes cools between uses, and the unit takes a moment to fire. A recirculation setup can reduce it.

Most manufacturers recommend about once a year. Homes with harder water or well water may need it more often.

If the leak is from the tank body, no. Shut it off and replace it. If it’s from a fitting or the relief valve, it may be repairable, but it should be checked soon.

That’s the temperature and pressure relief valve doing its job, or failing. It can mean the water is too hot, pressure is too high, or the valve is worn out. Have it checked rather than capping the line.

Call any time. You’ll be connected with a local plumber who can tell you what can be done tonight and what can safely wait until morning.

Many homeowners do. Turn off the power or gas, connect a hose to the drain valve, and drain until the water runs clear. If the drain valve is old plastic or the tank has never been flushed, it’s safer to have a plumber do it.

Around 120°F works for most households. It reduces the risk of scalding and saves energy.

Yes. Most need descaling about once a year. See our tankless water heater page for details.