Water Heater Installation & Replacement in Fort Worth

Repair or replace?

No hot water doesn't always mean a new heater. A failed element, thermostat, thermocouple or ignitor can often be fixed in one visit (see water heater repair). Replacement usually makes more sense when:

• the tank body itself is leaking (that can't be repaired)
• the hot water looks rusty, or the connections are corroded
• the heater is about 10 years old or more and needs repair after repair
• you run out of hot water much sooner than you used to
• the tank rumbles and pops from heavy sediment

Choosing the right size

The key number is the first-hour rating on the yellow label: how much hot water the heater delivers in one busy hour. A rough guide for tank heaters:

• 1–2 people: 30–40 gallons
• 3–4 people: 40–50 gallons
• 5 or more: 50 gallons and up, or tankless

A big soaking tub or back-to-back showers push the size up. Newer high-efficiency tanks are often taller or wider than the old one, so we measure the attic or closet before we order.

Gas or electric?

Staying with your current fuel is usually the simplest and cheapest swap.

• Gas heats water and recovers quickly. It needs a properly sized gas supply, a shut-off valve and a vent to carry exhaust outdoors.
• Electric needs no vent or gas line but recovers more slowly. It needs a dedicated 240-volt circuit with the right breaker and wire.
• Heat pump heaters are electric but use far less power than a standard electric tank. They need open air around them and a condensate drain.

Switching fuels is possible: electric to gas needs a new gas line and a vent, and gas to electric can need new wiring and a panel check. We price that work into the quote so you can compare.

Thinking about tankless?

A tankless heater warms water only when a tap is open, so it doesn't run out, and it frees up floor space. It's sized by flow rate (gallons per minute), not gallons stored. Installation costs more: gas units often need a larger gas line and new venting, and electric units may need a bigger electrical service. Plan on descaling about once a year. More on our tankless water heaters page.

Permits and code items

Fort Worth requires a plumbing permit to replace a water heater, even like-for-like, and the work is inspected afterward. We arrange both. Common code items include:

• a T&P relief valve, with its discharge line piped to an approved spot
• a drain pan and drain line wherever a leak could cause damage, such as an attic
• a thermal expansion tank where a pressure-reducing valve or check valve closes the water system
• venting on gas units: correct size, slope, clearances and combustion air
• a gas shut-off and sediment trap at the heater
• a dedicated circuit and disconnect for electric units

Older installs often miss some of these; we'll show you what needs updating first.

Near our shop, many Riverside, Oakhurst and Six Points homes date from the 1920s to the 1960s, and some still have galvanized steel pipe at the heater. We replace corroded galvanized fittings and use dielectric fittings where different metals meet, so the new heater isn't tied to failing pipe.

What installation day looks like

1. Check: fuel, vent, valves, pan and the supply pipe.
2. Remove: shut off the water and the gas or power, drain the old tank and carry it out.
3. Install: set the new heater with a pan, new connectors and, where needed, an expansion tank and shut-off valve.
4. Test: fill the tank, bleed air from the lines, check every water and gas joint for leaks, set the temperature (120°F is a common scald-safe setting) and show you where the shut-off is.

A straight swap usually takes a few hours. Relocations, fuel changes and tankless conversions take longer.

Cost and coupons

The price depends on size, type, fuel, location (an attic is more work than a garage), code updates and the permit.

Areas we serve

We're based at 955 N Sylvania Ave in Riverside, near Haltom City and Six Points. We install water heaters throughout Fort Worth and in Haltom City, North Richland Hills, Saginaw, Lake Worth, Benbrook, Kennedale and Burleson. For restaurants and other businesses, see commercial plumbing.

Water heater installation FAQ