Water Heater Repair in Ottawa — Hot Water Tanks, Tankless & Replacements

A tank heater stores 40 to 60 gallons of water and keeps it hot with a gas burner or electric elements. Cold water enters through a dip tube that delivers it to the bottom of the tank, and hot water leaves from the top.

A sacrificial anode rod inside the tank corrodes instead of the steel tank. When the anode is used up, the tank itself starts to corrode — which is why replacing the anode on schedule can extend tank life.

If a gas tank has no hot water, check whether the pilot is lit (on older units) or whether the control shows an error light. Follow the lighting instructions on the tank label exactly.

If you smell gas, don't try to relight anything. Leave the home and call Enbridge Gas's emergency line from outside, then call us once it's safe. Gas appliance repairs in Ontario must be done by licensed gas technicians, as regulated by the TSSA.

Most electric tanks have two elements and two thermostats. If you have no hot water, check the breaker first. If you have some hot water that runs out quickly, the lower element has often failed.

Electric tanks run on 240-volt circuits. Testing elements requires turning off power at the panel and using a meter — leave that to a professional if you're not comfortable.

The T&P valve on the side or top of the tank opens if pressure or temperature gets dangerously high. A discharge pipe should run from it to within a few inches of the floor.

If the valve is dripping, the tank may be overheating, pressure may be too high or the valve may be worn. Never cap or plug a relief valve — call a plumber to find the cause.

When water heats it expands. If your home has a check valve or pressure-reducing valve on the main line, that expanded water has nowhere to go, and pressure spikes stress the tank and fixtures.

A small expansion tank on the cold supply absorbs the extra volume. Many Ottawa homes, especially newer builds with pressure-reducing valves, benefit from one, and it's often required when a heater is replaced.

Rental agreements typically include repairs, which some homeowners value. But over 10 to 15 years, rental fees often far exceed the cost of buying and installing a tank.

Read your contract for the buyout price and the return process before you replace a rented unit. If you decide to own, we can install a new tank and leave the rental unit ready for the rental company's pickup according to your contract.

Tankless heaters heat water only when you need it, so there's no standby loss and they never run out mid-shower. In Ottawa's winter, cold incoming water reduces a tankless unit's flow rate, so sizing matters.

A tankless heater may need a larger gas line and new venting. When sized and installed properly, they last longer than tanks and free up basement space. Annual descaling is essential with Ottawa's water.

Heat pump water heaters move heat from the surrounding air into the water and can use far less electricity than a standard electric tank. Natural Resources Canada lists ENERGY STAR certified models.

They need space and a basement that stays reasonably warm, and they cool and dehumidify the room slightly — often a bonus in summer. Check current federal and provincial programs for possible incentives.

Once a year, attach a hose to the drain valve and flush a few gallons until the water runs clear. This removes sediment that causes rumbling and reduces efficiency.

If the drain valve hasn't been opened in years it may leak afterwards. We can flush the tank and replace a plastic drain valve with a brass one on any service visit.

Rust-coloured hot water, water pooling around the base, loud rumbling, a tank over 10 years old and frequent pilot outages all suggest the end is near.

Replacing a tank on your schedule is calmer and usually cheaper than an emergency swap after it floods your basement.

Health authorities recommend storing hot water hot enough to limit bacterial growth while protecting against scalds. Many plumbers set tanks around 60 °C and use mixing valves at fixtures where scalding is a concern, such as homes with young children or older adults.

We set and explain your temperature on every installation, and can install a thermostatic mixing valve if needed.

Water heater replacements in Ontario must meet the Ontario Building Code and, for gas units, TSSA requirements. That includes proper venting, gas connections, relief valve discharge and, where required, seismic or expansion provisions.

We handle the technical requirements so your installation is safe, compliant and documented for your insurer.

A family of two can usually live comfortably with a 40-gallon tank, while a household of four or more with soaker tubs or multiple bathrooms often needs 50 to 60 gallons. The first-hour rating on the label is a better guide than tank size alone.

For tankless units, sizing is about flow rate in gallons per minute at Ottawa's cold winter inlet temperature. We calculate the demand from your fixtures so you don't end up with lukewarm showers in February.

Gas water heaters must vent combustion gases safely outdoors. Older atmospheric units vent through a chimney; newer high-efficiency and power-vented units use plastic pipe through the wall.

When a furnace is replaced with a high-efficiency model, an old water heater can be left alone in an oversized chimney, which can cause poor draft. We check venting on every visit and install a carbon monoxide alarm recommendation where appropriate.

Flush tanks once a year, check the anode rod every three to five years, and test the relief valve annually by lifting the lever briefly with a bucket under the discharge pipe. Descale tankless units every year in Ottawa.

Regular service keeps efficiency high and catches small problems before they become a flooded basement.