3 services · Pennsylvania
Water heaters in Pennsylvania
Most Pennsylvania homes keep the water heater in the basement beside the laundry and an old floor drain, so a failing tank floods the basement first if the drain is slow.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Statewide conditions
Water heaters in Pennsylvania: what to know
Older rowhouses may have heaters that share a chimney with the boiler or furnace, which has to be checked at replacement. Cold winter water, especially from Lake Erie in Erie, makes heaters work harder.
Permits come from the local office. Adding an expansion tank and a drain pan is common.
- Climate
- Hard freezes are a regular part of winter in Pennsylvania, so pipes in exterior walls, garages, crawl spaces and attics need protection every year, and outdoor faucets and sprinkler lines must be drained before the first freeze.
- Typical foundations
- Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have large stocks of older rowhouses and homes with basements, cast-iron drains and aging laterals. Most common: basements.
Water heaters services
Water heater repair
If a gas water heater has no hot water, the pilot, thermocouple or gas valve is the usual cause; on an electric heater it's usually an element or thermostat. Those parts are repairable. A tank that leaks from the bottom can't be repaired and needs to be replaced.
Water heater replacement
A leaking tank or a heater past about 10 years old is usually replaced rather than repaired. A proper install includes a permit, correct venting (adjusted for altitude where needed), an expansion tank where required, a drip leg on the gas line and a relief valve discharge pipe.
Tankless water heaters
A tankless water heater heats water as it flows, so it doesn't run out, but it needs a larger gas line, its own venting and a unit rated for your elevation. Installed correctly and descaled regularly, it can outlast a tank heater.
Water heaters by city in Pennsylvania
Local pages cover each city's water provider, permit office and housing. Not listed? Check your ZIP code below.
Water heaters questions in Pennsylvania
Where are water heaters in Pennsylvania rowhouses?
How long does a water heater replacement take?
How these problems start and how to choose between repair options is covered in the water heaters guide.
More plumbing in Pennsylvania
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