Sugar Hill runs its own natural gas utility, so for a gas water heater the city, not Atlanta Gas Light, owns the service line and meter, and gas leaks go to the city's gas line. Water and sewer come from Gwinnett County. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Sugar Hill.
Sugar Hill is a fast-growing north Gwinnett city near Lake Lanier. It mails as Buford, but its water and sewer come from Gwinnett County, not the City of Buford. Its gas comes from the city's own gas department.
What to do now
- Close the cold supply valve above the heater.
- Turn off the heat source: breaker for electric, control to off for gas.
- Protect the area with towels and buckets, especially for attic or closet installs.
- Write down the label details: gallons, fuel and date.
- Smell gas? Leave the house, then call 911 and the City of Sugar Hill gas leak line at (770) 271-2137 from outside.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Leak from the bottom of the tank | Tank has rusted through |
| Not enough hot water | Sediment, dip tube or element |
| Rusty hot water | Internal corrosion |
| Pilot goes out | Thermocouple or gas control |
| Gas odor near the heater | A leak at the connector or valve; leave and call the city gas line |
Cost factors
- Fuel, size and efficiency of the new unit
- New gas connector and shutoff on the house side of the meter
- Venting, pan, drain and expansion tank
- Access and old-tank disposal
- City permit
On city gas service, all gas pipe downstream of the meter belongs to the customer, while the city keeps the service lines, meters and valves it installed; gas customer service is (770) 945-6716. Gwinnett water is soft, about 1.05 to 1.87 grains per gallon, so scale is not much of a worry. The City of Sugar Hill Building Services office at 5039 West Broad Street ((770) 945-6734) takes permit applications, and the city FAQ notes Gwinnett County inspects water, sewer and fire codes. Ask the plumber to confirm the permit for your job.
When you call, have the heater's size, fuel and age ready and say where it is installed. Many Sugar Hill homes are newer, with heaters in garages or attics; attic installs need a pan and a drain line under the new tank. If you want to compare a tankless model, which may need a larger gas line from the city meter, ask for both prices on the same visit so the numbers line up.
Water Heater Replacement questions in Sugar Hill
Which gas company do I call about a leak at my address?
Will the local water shorten the life of a new tank?
Can I switch from gas to electric, or the other way around?
What happens to the old water heater?
More plumbing services in Sugar Hill
Water Heater Replacement nearby
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