Water Heater Replacement in Griffin, GA

Signs it is time to replace

• A leak from the base of the tank that keeps coming back after you dry it
• Rust-colored water from the hot side only
• Rumbling or knocking each time the burner fires
• Soot, scorching or a weak blue flame on a gas unit
• Recurring element or thermostat failures on an electric tank
• A manufacture date more than a decade back

Local conditions in Griffin

Griffin is the Spalding County seat and an old railroad town with a historic commercial downtown. Its median home was built in 1976, and about 54.9% of homes predate 1980, which is older than most of the metro. Heaters in those houses often sit in utility rooms or closets with older shutoff valves and vent pipe, and an install may need a new vent connector or a short section of pipe replaced.

The City of Griffin owns and operates its own water system, with two treatment plants and two reservoirs fed by the Upper Flint River, and its own sewer system. Its water quality report shows chlorine and chlorine dioxide disinfection and does not state hardness. City locators only mark water lines on the city side of the meter, which suggests the customer side is the owner's to maintain.

Inside city limits, the Planning and Development Permits Division requires trade permits pulled by a contractor for plumbing work, including water lines, sewer tie-ins and gas lines. The page does not mention water heaters specifically, so the plumber should confirm. The office is at 100 S. Hill St. ((770) 233-4130). Outside city limits, Spalding County handles permits.

Griffin does not run a gas system; Atlanta Gas Light is the pipe utility and lists a regional office in Griffin. If you smell gas, leave first, then call 911 and Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 from outside.

What affects the cost

• Tank type, fuel and size
• Vent connector, gas cock and connector replacement in older homes
• Updated shutoff valves or a stretch of corroded pipe
• Closet or basement access
• Permit and haul-away of the old tank

What happens when you call

You will be connected with an independent plumber who works in Griffin. Describe what the heater is doing, give the fuel, size and age from the label, and say where it sits. If it is leaking, they will tell you what to shut off. A visit follows to look over the vent, gas line and relief drain before a price is given. Ask that the quote list any valve or vent updates separately so you can see exactly what is being replaced.