Signs you need this fixed
- Tea-coloured hot water, clear cold
- Puddle creeping out from under the burner skirt
- Pilot flame dies a minute after lighting
- Showers go lukewarm by the second rinse
Signs the tank is done
- >
- Brownish water from the hot side only. >
- Popping or rumbling as the burner fires, caused by hardened sediment.
- Damp concrete or a slow drip under the heater.
- Hot water giving out partway through a second shower.
- A tank past twelve years old, which you can often read from the serial number on the label.
Water seeping from the tank shell means the tank is finished. Leaks from fittings, the relief valve or the drain valve often can. We check which one you have before talking replacement.
Sizing for your household
Most Toronto households use a 40 or 50 US gallon tank. Size depends on how many people shower back to back, whether you have a soaker tub, and how far the bathrooms are from the tank. Look at the first-hour rating on the label rather than just the capacity: that figure shows the volume of hot water you can draw during a heavy hour of use. Oversizing carries a cost of its own: a larger tank keeps extra water hot around the clock for no reason.
Venting types explained
- Atmospheric vent: exhaust rises up a metal flue, often shared with an older furnace. Cheapest, but needs a sound chimney liner.
- Power vent: a fan pushes exhaust out through plastic pipe in a side wall. Needs a plug and makes some noise.
- Direct vent: sealed combustion, with intake and exhaust both through the wall and no fan.
Rental buyouts and returns
Many Toronto homes rent their water heater. Rental contracts in Ontario often include buyout or removal terms that change with the age of the tank. Before you replace a rental, call the provider, ask for the buyout amount and the return process, and get it in writing. If you buy your own tank, we remove the old one and leave it for the rental company's pickup if your contract requires it. Read our guide to rental water heaters before you call.
What is included on the visit
Tools on the truck
- Hose, pump and descaling kit
- Pipe cutter, press tool and dielectric unions
- Multimeter for thermocouples and elements
What we open
Burner access panel, drain valve and the T&P discharge
How we test it
Recovery timing, draft at the hood, soap on every new joint
How the job runs
Ring the line
Say what is dripping, backing up or banging. Water still flowing? We guide your hand to the valve first.
Find the cause
The plumber traces the fault, with a scope or gauge where one earns its keep.
Pick the fix
Options come in everyday language, and nothing starts until you choose.
Repair & prove it
We finish, run the water to prove it, wipe up and leave a short written record.
Calls we field, answered plainly
How long does a replacement take?
Usually three to five hours for a like-for-like swap. Changing venting type takes longer.
Do I need a permit?
Gas appliance installations follow TSSA requirements. Venting changes and new gas lines can need additional approvals.