Water Heater Replacement in Doraville, GA

Local conditions first

Doraville grew around the former General Motors assembly plant, and much of its housing dates from that era: the median year built is 1975. In those homes the heater usually sits in a garage, utility room or basement, and the pipe feeding it may be decades old. When the tank goes, it is common to replace the shutoff valve, flex connectors and sometimes a short run of pipe so the new heater is not tied into worn parts.

Permits come from Doraville Planning and Community Development. Plumbing work is filed on the Trade Permit Application through Cloudpermit, every permit needs a notarized homeowner or property-owner affidavit, and payment by phone is not accepted. The office is at 2421 Van Fleet Circle, Suite 200, (770) 451-8745. Having the affidavit notarized early keeps the job from stalling.

Water and sewer are DeKalb County's, from the Chattahoochee River via the Scott Candler plant. DeKalb is responsible up to and including the meter; the rest of the line is the owner's.

Replace or repair

Signs to look for

• Moisture or rust at the base of the tank
• Muddy or reddish hot water
• Rumbling as the burner fires
• Showers that cool off faster than they used to

Timing

Cold-weather months push heaters hardest, and that is when many old tanks finally split. If yours is showing early signs, getting the affidavit notarized and the permit filed in a calmer month makes the job easier. Atlanta Gas Light owns the gas pipes here; if you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 and Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 from a distance. When you call about a replacement, have the label details and the location of the heater ready, and mention if the old tank is already leaking so the plumber can tell you what to shut off while you wait.