Water Heater Replacement in Winston, GA

Winston is a small unincorporated community in western Douglas County, a former town whose charter was repealed in 1995. Its median home was built in 1994, and about 22.9% predate 1980. In the 30187 ZIP, about half of houses heat with electricity, about 42% with utility gas and about 5% with bottled or tank gas, so water heaters here come in all three fuels.

What to do now

1. Close the cold supply on the heater.
2. Turn off the energy: breaker for electric, or the gas control to off for natural gas or propane.
3. Contain the leak with towels and buckets.
4. Know your gas utility. Your bill shows whether it is Atlanta Gas Light, Austell Gas System or a propane supplier.
5. If you smell gas, leave the house, call 911, then call Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 or Austell Natural Gas System at 770.948.1841, option 1, whichever serves you. Propane customers call their supplier.

Symptoms and likely causes

Cost factors

• Fuel: electric, natural gas or propane
• Tank size, efficiency or a tankless upgrade
• Venting and gas connector condition
• Pan, relief line and expansion tank
• County permit and old-tank removal

Douglas County Building Permits and Inspections, 4655 Timber Ridge Dr. in Douglasville, requires plumbing permits for new or renovation work (770-920-7201; inspections 770-920-7333). Water comes from the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority's Dog River Reservoir, treated with free chlorine. WSA owns the meter and street-side lines; you own the water line from the meter to the house. In the Dog River drainage basin, WSA also conditions water service on properly maintained private onsite wastewater systems, which matters for drain work rather than the heater.

When you call, say which fuel your heater uses and, for gas, which utility or propane company serves you. That lets the plumber bring the right connector and plan the shutoff, and quote the county permit and haul-away of the old tank.