In Marietta, the City Building Inspections office issues plumbing permits, and a third of the city's homes were built before 1980, so heater swaps often include some updating. Whether your water comes from Marietta Water or Cobb County depends on the address. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Marietta.
Marietta conditions first
Marietta is the Cobb County seat, built around Marietta Square, and one of the metro's largest suburbs. Its median home was built in 1987, and about 33.2% predate 1980. Older neighborhoods near the Square often have heaters in basements, closets or utility rooms with older valves and vents; newer homes usually have them in a garage or attic.
Marietta Water, part of Marietta Power and Water, supplies water and sewer inside the city. It buys treated water from the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority, drawn from the Chattahoochee River and Lake Allatoona, and the report shows chlorine disinfection and added fluoride; it does not report hardness. Marietta-addressed homes outside city limits may instead be on Cobb County Water System, so check your bill.
The City of Marietta Building Inspections office issues permits for changes to existing buildings, and plumbing is one of its most-requested permit types. A plumber who works in the city will usually handle the filing and the inspection.
Repair or replace?
| What you're seeing | Most likely answer |
|---|---|
| Leak from the tank itself | Replace |
| Leak at a union or valve | Repair the fitting |
| Older tank with rusty hot water | Replace |
| Gas unit with a failed thermocouple, under eight years old | Repair |
| Hot water never enough for the household | Replace with a larger or tankless unit |
Signs it is time
- A wet floor or rust ring under the heater
- Discolored hot water
- Popping or rumbling during heating
- A dripping relief valve
Timing and seasonal notes
Old tanks tend to fail in the coldest stretch of winter, when they run longest. Planning a replacement before then avoids a rushed install. Marietta Power and Water does not provide gas; Atlanta Gas Light is the expected pipe utility, with your gas sold by a marketer. If you smell gas, leave the house first, then call 911 and Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 from outside.
Marietta Water also requires testable backflow preventers to be tested every year by a certified tester, with results reported to the utility. That is a separate job from a heater swap, but if your home has an irrigation backflow device, the plumber can tell you whether it is due.
Water Heater Replacement questions in Marietta
Who issues the permit for a water heater replacement here?
Will the local water shorten the life of a new tank?
Can the water heater go in a different spot?
Will the new heater need a thermal expansion tank?
More plumbing services in Marietta
Water Heater Replacement nearby
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