Repairing a tank heater
Dripping fittings or a tank that no longer heats may call for just a part. The plumber you hire examines the unit and says whether repair is worth it.
Water Heater Repair and Installation in San Francisco
Lukewarm showers, a pool of water around the tank or a heater that has gone quiet and cold each lead to the same choice, repair or replace. Ring us with what the heater is doing.
This page also covers the permit rule, the license class that fits the work and the earthquake straps.
Water heater jobs
Replacing a tank
A tank that has failed gets swapped for a new one that matches the household. The size calculator on this site suggests a capacity to start from.
Switching to tankless
Rather than keeping a tank of hot water waiting, a tankless heater warms water as it runs through. See what your fixtures would ask of one in the tankless flow calculator.
Moving or adding a heater
You might want the heater relocated, or a first one fitted where there is none. Either way it brings new water connections along with it.
Water heater permits
Under the California Plumbing Code, a permit comes before any water heater is installed, removed or replaced. Plumbing permit applications in San Francisco go online through PermitSF, and a contractor authorized for Express Permits skips City staff review.
The license class
A C-36 contractor is among those San Francisco accepts for a plumbing permit, and the state defines C-36 work to include installing any type of equipment to heat water.
Earthquake straps
Earthquake rules from the state call for every water heater to be supported and strapped against movement, which applies to a new or replacement unit as well.
Choosing the right size
Each calculator starts from your own figures. The water heater size calculator pairs a tank with the hot water your household draws at its busiest, while the tankless flow calculator pairs a tankless unit with the fixtures that run together.
How old is the heater
Month and year of manufacture are built into a heater’s serial number. The serial number decoder translates it, which gives you an age to weigh when you decide between repair and replacement.
Frequently asked questions
Can a handyman swap my water heater?
Not quite. The state leaves small jobs to unlicensed people only if no permit of any kind is involved and nobody is hired to help. Replacing a water heater needs a permit under the California Plumbing Code, which puts it outside that exemption.
Can I work out a heater size before I call?
Yes. The two calculators here run on your own household numbers, so you arrive at the call with a rough size already in mind to discuss with the plumber you hire.
Water pooling by the heater may be coming from a pipe, so leak detection is one place to look, and the repiping page covers the supply lines. See the homepage for the rest of the plumbing work.
Call for a free plumbing quote
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