3 services · Raleigh
Water heaters in Raleigh, NC
Most tank water heaters last about 8 to 12 years. A plumber can often repair a heater that stops making hot water, but a tank that leaks from the bottom has failed and needs to be replaced. Tankless heaters last longer but cost more to install, especially if the gas line or venting has to change.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Water heaters services in Raleigh
Water heater repair
UrgentIf 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 in Raleigh
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.
Local conditions
Water heaters in Raleigh: what's different
Many Raleigh homes from the 1990s–2000s are on their second water heater, and rapid growth means many newer homes are on their first.
Permits come from the City of Raleigh or Wake County.
Many homes keep heaters in garages or attics, where a leak can damage ceilings and should drain to a pan. Replacing a heater before it fails avoids that damage, and adding an expansion tank and replacing the shutoff valve are common at the same time.
Annual flushing removes sediment and extends tank life in older units.
- Water and sewer in Raleigh
- City of Raleigh Water provides water and sewer service to Raleigh and several nearby towns.
- Permits in Raleigh
- Plumbing permits inside the city are issued by the City of Raleigh; unincorporated areas use Wake County.
Raleigh housing and plumbing
Historic Oakwood and Five Points have older homes with aging pipe; Brier Creek and North Hills are mostly newer construction.
Other Raleigh conditions that affect plumbing
- Crawl-space freezes: Ice storms freeze pipes in vented crawl spaces.
- Older laterals: Clay laterals in historic neighborhoods crack and collect roots.
- Water heater turnover: Many homes from the 1990s–2000s are on their second water heater.
- Rapid growth: Raleigh and Wake County are among the fastest-growing areas in the state, so many homes are on their first water heater and original fixtures.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Raleigh and Wake County, including Oakwood, Five Points, Hayes Barton, North Hills, Brier Creek, Mordecai. ZIP codes: 27601 · 27602 · 27603 · 27604 · 27605 · 27606.
When to call a plumber in Raleigh
- No hot water, or hot water that runs out much faster than it used to
- Water pooling around the base of the tank
- Rumbling or popping from the tank
- Rusty or smelly hot water
- A pilot that won't stay lit or a tankless unit showing an error code
- A heater more than 10 years old before it fails
How these problems start and how to choose between repair options is covered in the water heaters guide.
Water heaters questions in Raleigh
Is my Raleigh water heater due?
How long does a water heater replacement take?
More plumbing in Raleigh
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