In Austell, a failing water heater usually needs one part replaced, like an element, a thermostat, a thermocouple or a valve, and a plumber can often finish in one trip. A tank leaking through its own wall must be replaced. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Austell.
Austell is a small south Cobb city that began as a healing-springs settlement and railroad depot. Census estimates put the median build year at 1993, with about 41% of homes built before 1980. The city runs its own utilities to an unusual degree: the Austell Water System, which buys treated water from the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority and disinfects with free chlorine, and the Austell Gas System, the municipal gas utility that also serves Powder Springs, Douglasville and parts of Cobb and Douglas. Austell-mailing addresses outside the city's water service area may be on Cobb County water instead.
What to do now
- Gas smell first. If you smell gas, get everyone outside first, then call 911 or the Austell Gas System at 770-948-1841, option 1. Austell's gas leaks don't go to Atlanta Gas Light.
- Stop the water. Close the valve on the cold line feeding the top of the tank. For a large leak, shut the main at the meter.
- Cut the energy. Switch off the heater's breaker, or turn a gas control to off or pilot.
- Find the source. Note whether water comes from the relief pipe, the drain valve, a top fitting or the tank bottom.
- Read the label. Model, serial number and fuel help the plumber bring the right parts.
Symptom guide
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Electric unit stopped heating | High-limit trip, failed element |
| Gas pilot goes out | Thermocouple, flame sensor |
| Short bursts of hot water | Lower element, sediment, dip tube |
| Drip from the side pipe | Relief valve wear or pressure |
| Puddle under the tank | Drain valve, fittings, or tank failure |
| Brown water from hot taps | Anode rod spent or tank corroding |
Cost factors
- The failed part. Elements and thermostats are simpler than gas controls.
- Older houses. Seized shutoffs and corroded connectors in pre-1980 homes add labor.
- Location. Closets and attics slow the work.
- Permit. Austell's plumbing permits explicitly cover replacing water heating equipment, applied for through the city's online portal.
Austell has a history of flooding along Sweetwater Creek, notably in 2009. A heater that has sat in floodwater should be inspected before it is relit or switched back on, since water can damage gas controls, burners and electrical parts even when the tank itself looks fine.
Water Heater Repair questions in Austell
My gas bill comes from a marketer. Who handles a leak at the water heater?
Do I need a permit when a water heater gets replaced here?
At what age does fixing a tank stop making sense?
Should I worry about water trickling from the T&P valve line?
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