An Austell water heater that leaks from the tank or keeps running out of hot water is usually a replacement job, and the City of Austell requires a plumbing permit to replace water heating equipment. Gas leaks here go to the city-owned Austell Gas System, not Atlanta Gas Light. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Austell.
Austell is a little different from most of Cobb County. The city runs its own water system, buying treated water wholesale from the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority, and it owns the Austell Gas System, which serves Austell, Powder Springs, Douglasville and parts of Cobb and Douglas counties. About 40.6% of homes in the city were built before 1980.
First moves when the heater gives out
- Close the cold supply valve above the tank so it stops refilling.
- Switch off the breaker for an electric heater, or set a gas heater's control to off.
- If you smell gas at any point, leave the house and call Austell Gas System at 770-948-1841, option 1, or 911, from outside.
- Run a hot tap upstairs to relieve pressure if the relief valve is spraying, then keep clear of the discharge pipe.
- Snap a photo of the rating label so the plumber knows the size and fuel.
Symptoms and their usual causes
| Symptom | Usual cause |
|---|---|
| Steady drip from under the jacket | Tank lining has failed |
| Hot water smells like rotten eggs | Anode rod reacting inside an aging tank |
| Rust flakes in faucet aerators | Corrosion inside the heater or old galvanized pipe |
| Gas burner lights, then quits | Thermocouple or gas valve trouble |
| Tank is cold and the breaker is fine | Burned-out element or thermostat |
Cost factors in Austell
The price depends on the heater type, size and fuel, and on how much of the surrounding plumbing needs updating. In older houses that can mean new shutoff valves, a new gas connector, a vent connector that fits the new unit, or replacing a stretch of corroded pipe at the tank. Location matters too: a garage install is simpler than a cramped closet. The City of Austell Community Development permit is part of the job, since the city's rules name water heating equipment along with plumbing, gas and drain piping. Applications go through the city's online permit portal, and the main city line is (770) 944-4300. Ask whether removing the old tank is included. Austell has a history of flooding along Sweetwater Creek, so if your heater sits in a basement or low garage, raising it on a stand during the swap is worth discussing.
Water Heater Replacement questions in Austell
Who issues the permit for a water heater replacement here?
Which gas company do I call about a leak at my address?
Does an older house make the replacement more involved?
Why does my hot water come out rusty or brown?
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