Tank hot water heaters last 8 to 15 years on average. Tankless water heaters last 10 to 20 years on average.
How do I know if I need a new water heater?
Signs a water heater is going out:
Rusty, discolored, or metallic-tasting water
Loud clanging, knocking, gurgling, or whining noises
Hot water that runs out quickly
Low water pressure
Foul odor coming from hot water
Low or irregular water temperature, or no hot water at all
Leaks at the base of the tank or around the pipes at the top of the tank
Do you need a permit to install or replace a water heater?
Most cities require a permit to install a water heater. A water heater permit costs $50 to $200 on average. Most plumbers pull the permit and include permit fees in their estimate.
Can I install a water heater myself?
Manufacturer warranties and local building codes may require a water heater permit and installation by a licensed plumber. Installing a water heater yourself is possible but requires plumbing and electrical experience.
How long does it take to install a water heater?
Installing a tank water heater takes 2 to 6 hours, depending on accessibility. Tankless water heater installation takes 3 to 10 hours for a new install or 2 to 4 hours to replace an existing tankless unit. Replacing a water heater in an attic, closet, or other tight space increases the labor time.
Who installs water heaters?
Licensed plumbers install tank and tankless water heaters, including gas, electric, and hybrid heat pump systems. Home Depot and Lowe's also offer water heater installation through their network of licensed plumbers.
Is a gas water heater better than an electric?
Gas water heaters cost $100 to $700 more than electric up front, but cost $220 less per year to operate. Electric water heaters are cheaper to replace than gas and last 2 to 3 years longer, but cost more to operate.
How to find water heater replacement companies near me?
Finding reputable contractors requires planning, researching, and asking questions. To hire the best:
Get at least three estimates from plumbers to compare.
Look for plumbers with experience installing tank or tankless water heaters.
Select companies that are licensed, insured, and bonded.
Check out their reviews and previous work on HomeGuide and Google.
Make sure the quote includes removal of the old water heater.
Ask about their guarantees.
Get an itemized estimate, contract, and warranty in writing before the work begins.
Avoid making payments upfront. Pay after installation is completed.
What questions should I ask local hot water heater installers?
When looking to hire a gas water heater installer near you, ask them the following questions:
Do you recommend a tank or tankless water heater for my needs, and why?
What size water heater do I need for my home?
Which type of water heater do you have the most experience installing?
Would a gas, propane, or electric water heater be best for my home, and why?
Would my home benefit from a hybrid heat pump water heater, and why?
Which water heater brands do you offer, and why do you recommend those brands?
Are there any manufacturer rebates available?
Does your estimate include removing and disposing of the old water heater?
What additional costs should I expect?
What permits do I need, and will you obtain them?
How long will the installation take?
How long is the warranty, and what does it cover?
How long will the water heater last, and what can I do to make it last longer?
What kind of maintenance will my new water heater require?
What payment methods do you accept?
What do I need to provide to get started?
Reviews for Gary hot water heater replacement
Recent success stories from people in the Gary area.
Michael B.
THE BEST OF THE BEST!! You only need Alberto and his crew for all your plumbing needs! I will never need to look for another plumber again! We were in a mess with a sewer backing up into the downstairs bathroom/laundry room which happened during the coldest zero and subzero weather! And we had water and debris backed up and were unable to fully use our facilities. What a mess!! Cleaning up was horrible! Well, I left a message on this Homeguide site in the wee hours of the morning, and in no time I received a call from Alberto with All Plumbing Services. He was at a job near my home and was able to come out within hours. We had an estimate by another plumber for $11,000 and I didn't know where to start, as we could not afford that. Alberto said for that much, he could replace my entire house's incoming and outgoing lines! He told us that he was seeing people being overcharged badly for this kind of work, and that he felt bad for people, knowing that so many are going through hard financial times. That sure helped the emotional component of having your life disrupted by something like this! We lived in our house for 39 years and never had this problem before. So Alberto came over and did a free video inspection of our sewer lines and told us where the problems were. He made a contract for us that was $4200 instead of the $11,000 from the other company!! This was a life saver! Alberto is the nicest guy, too. He is very experienced, friendly, understanding, emotionally supportive, and honest. In getting to know him, he talked about how he loved what he did in his line of work, including making his own custom made pipe lines, making his own threads. You can see his pictures on this site. And he spoke often of his mentor, who he values every day he goes to work. His mentor was a man of high integrity and great knowledge of plumbing. He always told Alberto, "Always be honest. As long as you are honest with people, you will always have customers." Well, how true. And Alberto was very honest with us. We are so glad to know him! So before the work was started, he went to our Village Hall and got all the legal paperwork done for doing the job and for setting up and inspection with the health dept. who has to inspect and approve the work being done. It was no problem as Alberto is licensed, bonded, and insured, with the state of Illinois. He does work all over Illinois and even in Indiana. He also is contracted to service all the Dunkin' Doughnuts in the area! Alberto says he does not usually charge as much money as most plumbers because he doesn't see the need to charge more than what things should actually cost. Now that's a rare person right there!! So the work was started and completed in record time, and just in time for the inspectors to come by. They told him "Nice work!!" And the Village was quite surprised at the total cost of the job. They said there was another home close by that got charged $45,000!!!! They, themselves, saw how reasonable Alberto's company was. I'm telling you, are we blessed. So as it turns out, the obstruction in the sewer line had more to do with the part of the line nearest the city part of the sewer. There was some clogging near the house and the need to replace some sewer line which cracked and leaked, but not as bad as we thought. The biggest obstruction was near the street, way down away from the house. There was huge tree roots that were growing there that finally interfered with our free flow. This house was built in 1971, and we've lived here since 1985. This was our first backup! Even in the 1990's when we had 24 inches of rain in 24 hours that flooded Naperville, we only had puddles in our yard and no drainage troubles! So there is this neat roto-rooter machine that Alberto used to break up those thick roots. It forces water out at such a high pressure that it could cut your hand off! So it got those roots cleared out very well. That's another thing we appreciated so much. Alberto always told you what was being done, and when, and kept you informed every step of the way. And if he foresaw a problem that would add to the cost, he told you ahead of time. We couldn't have asked for more. His team is hard working. It was near freezing and wet and muddy everywhere. But his crew did their job with so much effort and nothing stopped them! I am beyond impressed! Thank you, Alberto. And thank you, Alberto's crew!! I know you work HARD!
All Plumbing Services
Matt H.
Bill come over to my house and roded out my main line did a great job and price was reasonable thanks bill
Community plumbing & sewer...
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