Is Your Hot Water Running Out Sooner Than It Used To?
Most storage tanks in Kitchener-Waterloo basements give you 10 to 15 good years, and then the hot water runs out sooner than it used to.
So most of what we do here is a water heater replacement rather than a first water heater installation. We look at what is in the room, ask how your household uses hot water on a busy morning, and check the venting before we price the job.
We call a water heater installation finished when the new tank runs, the venting checks out and your floor is clear.
When a Water Heater Replacement Is the Better Call Than a Repair
Is your tank worth one more repair, or is it time to replace it? We look at its age, its condition and whether it still keeps up with your household.
The age of the tank
Past 10 to 12 years, a hot water tank is thinning from the inside, and a new part goes into a tired shell.
Rust or water at the base
Rust in the hot water and water at the base point the same way, because the tank itself is failing.
Hot water that runs short
You feel it when the last person into the shower gets nothing, and a tank sized to your household puts that right.
A dead thermostat or a spent thermocouple is a repair, and when that is what we find, we say so and quote the water heater repair instead of a replacement.
What Replacement Day Looks Like in Your Home
A straight changeout is often completed the same day. We drain the old hot water tank, break the connections and carry it out, then set the new tank, connect the water and gas, and check the venting before we light it, because a water heater installation that vents badly is a safety problem. We pull the permit, arrange the inspection, and take the old unit away on our truck.
Then we run the taps, show you the shut-off and tidy the room, so you get a properly vented water heater replacement you can stop thinking about.
Do You Own Your Water Heater, or Do You Rent It?
Your gas or utility bill shows a monthly rental line when the tank belongs to someone else, and that line decides your next step.
You own it
Then the choice is yours. You pick the size, the fuel and the company, so a water heater replacement happens on your schedule rather than on the day the tank fails. Ask for a quote and we will put a number in writing.
You rent it
Rental agreements commonly limit servicing to the provider's own technicians, so anything to do with the unit in your basement starts with a call to them. If you would rather own your hot water outright, ask what your agreement says about ending it, and we will quote a water heater installation you would own.
Your Water Heater Installation Options: Gas, Electric and Power Vent
Natural gas, atmospheric vent
This is the tank most Ontario homes already run. It vents up an existing chimney or flue, so it is usually the simplest water heater installation we do.
Power vent
A fan pushes the exhaust sideways through an exterior wall, so a working chimney stops being a requirement. It needs power at the tank, and we take care of that during the installation.
Electric
An electric tank needs no gas line and no venting, which suits a home without gas service and a household that draws hot water gently. It reheats slowly, so we size it generously.
The right tank for your house depends on the fuel you have and the venting you can use. We size it from the people in your house, not the label on the old one, and we measure on site before quoting a water heater installation.
Before You Replace, Is a Storage Tank Still the Right Choice?
Most people booking a water heater replacement put another tank in, and that is usually right. The changeout is still the easy moment to switch.
| Your question | Storage tank | Tankless |
|---|---|---|
| What does it cost up front? | You pay less today. | You pay more today. |
| How much hot water do I get? | You get a tankful, then a wait. | You get hot water while the tap runs. |
| Where does it sit? | It stands on your floor. | It hangs on the wall and frees the floor. |
| How long does it last? | It serves most homes 10 to 15 years. | It outlasts a tank comfortably. |
| What does switching involve? | We swap it in one visit. | We usually upgrade venting and gas first. |
| Choose this if | You want a straight swap of the tank you own. | You run out of hot water, or you want the floor back. |
If running out of hot water is your real problem, read our tankless water heater page next. We quote a water heater installation either way.
Why Homeowners Choose Us for Their Water Heater Installation
You want a tank that fits your home, an install you never think about again, and a company that is still here in five years. Sina owns the business and is our main technician, so the person who quotes your water heater installation answers for the work.
We check the venting before we quote so the price holds, and we say when a repair is the cheaper answer. As an Authorized Lennox Dealer with over 10 years serving the Kitchener-Waterloo area and a five-time HomeStars Best of Award winner, we stand behind the work.
My water heater started leaking and Sina came to the house and said it needed replacing. He was very efficient and easy to communicate with. I appreciated that as I had to work while the guys replaced the unit. They kept me informed and all was done without any stress. Good clean job.
Brenda Vanderwiel, Google review
What Drives the Price of a Hot Water Tank Replacement
The size, the fuel, the venting and the state of your connections decide what a water heater installation costs.
Tank size
A 50 gallon tank costs more than a 40, so we size it to your household and no larger.
Fuel and vent type
A power vent water heater installation costs more than a straight atmospheric changeout.
The connections already in place
Seized shut-offs and corroded fittings get replaced on the day and priced into the quote.
Venting changes
When your chimney can no longer serve the tank, rerouting the vent adds the most to the job.
So we price it in your basement rather than over the phone. Book a visit, we will talk you through the options in person, and you get your number in writing before anything is disconnected. Our financing options are set out on their own page.
How a Water Heater Installation Runs, Start to Finish
One crew handles the job from the first look at the venting to the final tidy-up, and many homeowners pair the swap with a furnace installation while we are in the basement.
We look at what you have
We come out, check the venting and connections, and size the water heater installation to your household.
You get it in writing
The quote names the tank, the size and the work, so nothing needs decoding later.
We book the changeout
You pick the day, and we pull the permit before the truck is loaded.
We fit it and tidy up
We install and test the new tank, take the old one away, and leave the room clean.
Where we install water heaters
Most tank replacements get planned in a hurry, usually after the old one starts leaving water on the floor. We install water heaters throughout Waterloo Region as well as the towns and townships of Wellington, Perth and Oxford counties. Call with your street address and we will confirm a day that works for you.
