Failed tank: what to do first
A tank that leaks from its seam or bottom has rusted through, and the rust spreads from the inside. Water pushes through the weakest point, so a small weep often becomes a flood within days. Shut the cold supply at once, then call.
If the water is coming from a valve, a connector or the relief pipe, the heater may be repairable instead. The plumber checks this on site before recommending a new unit, because replacing a heater that only needs a part is a waste of money.
Tank, tankless or heat pump: the real differences
Most homeowners replace like for like, but the choice is open. Here is how the three common types compare in practice.
| Type | Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Storage tank, gas or electric | Lowest purchase price, familiar parts, simple swap | Limited hot water per cycle, standby heat loss, finite tank life |
| Tankless, gas or electric | Hot water on demand, smaller footprint | Higher install cost, may need new gas line, venting or electrical upgrades |
| Heat pump (hybrid) tank | Uses much less electricity than a standard electric tank | Needs space and airflow, more complex, higher purchase price |
Our tankless water heater page covers sizing and maintenance in more depth.
Tank leaking from the body? Call, and ask about a same-day swap.
Call (855) 575-2890Sizing the new heater
Tank size follows household use, not square footage. A couple in a small home may do well with a 40-gallon tank, while a family of five with a soaking tub can run out at 50 gallons. We ask how many people live in the house, how many bathrooms you use at once, and whether you run the washer during showers.
The first-hour rating on the yellow label matters more than the gallon number. It tells you how much hot water the heater can deliver in an hour from cold, and it varies between models of the same size. We read it with you before you choose.
What a replacement includes
A proper swap is more than lifting one heater out and another in. These are the pieces we handle.
- Shutting off water and fuel, then draining the old tank
- Disconnecting and removing the old heater, with haul-away included on request
- Setting the new heater, with a drain pan and pan piping where the location calls for it
- New flexible water connectors, a shutoff valve, and a temperature and pressure relief valve with a discharge pipe
- An expansion tank where the plumber finds closed-system pressure
- Venting check on gas heaters and electrical check on electric ones
- Filling, purging air, testing every joint and setting the thermostat
How long a tank lasts and when to stop repairing
Storage tanks commonly last somewhere in the range of 8 to 12 years. Heavy use, sediment and a spent anode rod shorten that, and a tank in a hot garage can age faster. The label has a serial number that usually encodes the date of manufacture.
A useful rule is to compare the repair cost with the cost of a new unit. If the tank is near the end of the range and the repair is a large part of the new price, replacement is the better value. If the tank is young and the fault is a part, we repair it, as our water heater repair page describes.
Permits, pressure and the expansion tank
Permit rules vary by city and by the type of change, and the public pages of the City of Tavares do not state the water heater rule. Ask the City of Tavares Building Division at 201 E. Main Street before the day of the job. The Florida Building Code, Plumbing governs the work in this state, and we describe the work in plain terms so you know what to ask.
Pressure matters more than most people expect. When the cold line is closed by a check valve or a pressure regulator, heated water has nowhere to expand, and pressure spikes inside the tank. An expansion tank gives that water a place to go and protects the new heater's seams. We measure the supply pressure with a gauge and tell you what we find.
If the tank flooded the floor
A ruptured tank can release dozens of gallons in minutes. Photograph the water line, the tank label and the damaged materials, and move wet items off the floor. Dry the area quickly, since drywall and baseboards can grow mold within a couple of days.
Ask your insurer whether sudden water damage is covered. Policies often exclude the heater itself, and a slow rust leak may be treated differently from a sudden burst.
What affects the cost of replacing a water heater
The price of a new heater is not just the unit. The plumber explains every line before the work starts, so you can compare options.
Fuel type and tank size set the base price, and tankless and heat pump units usually sit above standard tanks.
A garage swap is straightforward. An attic or tight closet takes extra labor, and stairs add time.
Drain pans, discharge piping, an expansion tank and new valves are part of doing the job correctly.
Moving from one fuel to another, or upgrading venting or a circuit, adds work. Tell us early if you want to switch, since a gas line or new circuit can change the schedule.
Night and weekend dispatch can change the cost, and you hear it before work begins.
Homeowners policies often cover water damage from a sudden tank rupture but not the cost of the new heater. Ask your carrier before you sign, keep the old unit's label photo, and save the invoice for the claim.
Tell the dispatcher what you see and the plumber will explain the price on site before starting.
Haul-away, cleanup and same-day swaps
The old tank leaves with us when you ask, so you are not left with a heavy steel shell in the garage. We drain it, cut the connections and take it out through the path that protects your floors and walls.
We also look at what is around the heater, since a swap is the best time to fix small problems. A corroded shutoff valve, a cracked drain pan line or a discharge pipe that ends in the wrong place is cheap to correct while the old tank is out and costly to find later. We point these out and do not add them without your agreement.
Same-day replacement depends on the unit on hand and the day's schedule, and the dispatcher tells you what is possible when you call. Nearby customers in Mount Dora and other towns are served from the same dispatch line. If you are comparing a new install on a fresh location, see water heater installation.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The line is open 24 hours a day, every day. If your tank is leaking at night, shut the cold valve and call, and a licensed plumber is scheduled as quickly as the day allows, with a same-day swap offered when available.
Water pooling at the base from the seam, rust-colored hot water, a tank older than a decade, or a pattern of repairs all point to replacement. A leak at a valve or connector may only need a part.
It depends on your fuel, space and budget. Tankless gives continuous hot water but may need gas or electrical upgrades. A heat pump unit saves electricity but needs space and airflow. We explain the trade-offs, and a like-for-like tank is a fine choice.
For most homes it comes down to how many people use hot water at the same time. The first-hour rating on the label tells you more than the tank size. We go through your habits with you before recommending a size.
Permit rules vary. The City of Tavares public pages do not state the water heater rule, so ask the Building Division at 201 E. Main Street. We describe the work so you know what to ask, and we follow the Florida Building Code, Plumbing.
It is a small tank on the cold line that absorbs the extra volume when water heats. If your home has a check valve or regulator that closes the system, it usually helps. We measure pressure and tell you.
Yes, on request. We drain it, disconnect it and carry it out. This saves you a heavy steel tank to dispose of, and the area is left clear of debris.
Cold showers are no reason to wait. Call and we will plan the swap with you.
Call (855) 575-2890Sources and standards
Where this page cites a local fact, it comes from a public City of Tavares page, another city's own web page or a published water quality report. Where a figure is not published, the page says so instead of guessing.
Plumbing work in Florida is governed by the Florida Building Code, Plumbing, which is the standard inspectors apply, and permit rules vary by city. The contact page explains how to reach us, and any plumber's license can be checked with the Verify a License tool at MyFloridaLicense.com.