A tank that leaks
Water at the base of a tank might be a loose fitting, which is a small fix, or a rusted-through tank, which means replacement.
Water Heater Repair and Installation in Arlington, Texas
Maybe the tank is leaking, the water never gets hot or the unit has quit altogether. Call and describe it, and we find you a plumber for repairs, replacements and tankless conversions.
Arlington has its own height rule for water heaters in garages and its own permit expectations for replacements, and this page goes through both.
Repair, replace or go tankless
Little or no hot water
Lukewarm water, or none, points to a worn element, thermostat or burner part. Testing the unit tells the plumber whether a repair is worth making.
Replacing a tank
A new tank is picked to match how much hot water the household uses, and the old one goes out. Arlington lists water heater replacement among the jobs that need a permit and an inspection.
Switching to tankless
Tankless units warm water on demand, so they are chosen by flow rate and temperature rise rather than tank gallons. Try your own showers and fixtures in the tankless flow calculator.
The 18-inch rule for garage heaters
When an electric or gas water heater in or opening to a garage is replaced in Arlington, it has to sit 18 inches above the floor. The rule covers both fuels.
The city explains that a water heater’s thermostat throws a spark when it switches the heating element on, and that spark could ignite vapors such as gasoline, which are heavier than air and settle on a garage floor. Arlington once allowed electric heaters on the floor, and the codes changed to prevent accidents.
Permit and inspection for a replacement
Arlington’s building permit FAQ names water heater replacement among projects that need permits and inspections. Texas lists water heaters among the plumbing a city regulates, and the permit exceptions leave them out.
Be careful if someone asks you to apply for the permit as the owner/builder. The Responsible Master Plumber is the one who normally pulls the permit and requests the inspections on a job in Texas.
Softeners and filters
Arlington says its tap water needs no further treatment for health reasons. A softener or filter is a choice about taste, and the owner is the one who maintains it.
Water dripping from the pipes above a tank is a plumbing matter beyond the heater, so see leak detection and repiping, or return to the homepage.
Call for a free plumbing estimate
Call us to discuss your current issue and how we can assist you. The call is free and you get a free, personalized estimate with no obligation. We're here to help.
Call (855) 321-3426