Most Hapeville water heater breakdowns come from one part, such as an element, a thermostat, a thermocouple or a valve, and a plumber can usually replace it in a single visit. A tank leaking through its wall must be replaced. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Hapeville.
Hapeville is a small historic city beside Hartsfield-Jackson, with many homes from the 1940s and 1950s. Census estimates put the median build year at 1963, with about 63% of homes built before 1980. Heaters in those houses often sit in closets or additions, connected through valves and pipe older than the tank. The city's Water and Sewer Division maintains water and sewer lines and buys water wholesale from the City of Atlanta. The city maintains the line up to and including the meter; from the meter to the house is the owner's. The city has also noted that leaking old service lines and running toilets can cause big jumps in water bills.
Steps to take
- Gas smell first. If you smell gas, leave the house without touching switches, then call 911 and Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 from outside.
- Stop the water. Close the valve on the cold line feeding the top of the tank. For a large leak, shut the main at the meter.
- Cut the energy. Switch off the heater's breaker, or turn a gas control to off or pilot.
- Find the source. Note whether water comes from the relief pipe, the drain valve, a top fitting or the tank bottom.
- Read the label. Model, serial number and fuel help the plumber bring the right parts.
Symptom table
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Lukewarm water | Element, thermostat or burner problem |
| Pilot won't hold | Thermocouple or draft |
| Drip from side pipe | Relief valve or pressure |
| Water at the base | Drain valve, fittings, or tank failure |
| Rusty hot water | Anode rod or corroding tank |
| High water bill | Leaking relief or drain valve, among other causes |
Cost factors
- The failed part. Thermocouples and elements are routine.
- Old connections. Galvanized nipples and old shutoffs are common in mid-century homes.
- Space. Closets and additions slow the work.
- Permit. Residential plumbing permits come from the City of Hapeville through Public Works.
Hapeville also encourages sewer backflow preventers on service laterals for buildings connected at or below street level. That is a separate device from anything on the water heater, but if your heater is in a basement, ask the plumber whether a sewer backup could reach it.
Water Heater Repair questions in Hapeville
At what age does fixing a tank stop making sense?
What should I do in the first few minutes after the heater starts leaking?
Why is only the hot side coming out rusty or brown?
The pilot on my gas water heater keeps dying. What is the usual cause?
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