Water Heater Replacement in Fairburn, GA

Fairburn is a railroad town and former county seat with a small historic downtown surrounded by newer subdivisions. The median home was built in 2004, and only about 20% predate 1980. That makes this a city of first-replacement heaters: builder-grade tanks in garages and attics that are hitting their late teens.

Steps to take now

1. Turn the cold valve above the heater to off.
2. Kill the power at the breaker, or turn the gas control to off.
3. For attic installs, check the drain pan and the ceiling below for wet spots.
4. Open a hot tap to relieve pressure if you plan to let the plumber drain the tank.
5. Write down the size and fuel from the label so the plumber can bring a matching unit.
6. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 from outside.

Symptoms and what they usually mean

Cost factors

• Fuel, size and efficiency of the new heater
• Attic access, which takes more labor than a garage swap
• A new drain pan, relief line or expansion tank
• Venting and gas connection condition
• The city permit and disposal of the old unit

The City of Fairburn Building Division, at 314 NW Broad Street (770-964-2244 ext. 401), requires a permit for trade work and publishes an MEP application. Fairburn Utilities provides water, buying it from the City of Atlanta through 19 master meters; it is disinfected with chlorine, and the report does not state hardness. The city's service line inventory found no lines containing lead. The city notes that not every utility service is available in every area, so check your bill. Fairburn does not list natural gas among its utilities; Atlanta Gas Light is the expected pipe utility. Since so many Fairburn heaters sit in attics, ask the plumber to include a drain pan and a relief line routed to the outside or to a drain, which keeps a future leak from reaching the ceiling.