Hapeville's homes are some of the oldest near the airport, with a median build year of 1963, so replacing a water heater here often means updating the fittings and vent too. The City of Hapeville issues residential plumbing permits through Public Works. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Hapeville.
About 63% of Hapeville homes were built before 1980, many in the 1940s and 1950s. Heaters in those houses tend to be tucked into small closets, back porches or basements, and they are often tied into older galvanized pipe. The city runs its own water and sewer, buying water wholesale from the City of Atlanta, and Atlanta Gas Light is the expected gas utility.
What to do now
- Close the cold supply at the valve above the heater. If it is stuck, shut the main house valve.
- Turn off the heat at the breaker or the gas control.
- Keep water off old floors. Older wood floors and subfloors soak up water quickly; mop and use buckets.
- Look for the meter-side leak, too. Hapeville has said leaking old service lines can cause big spikes in water bills; if your bill jumped, mention it.
- Gas smell? Leave the house, then call 911 and Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 from outside.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Water on the floor under the tank | Tank failure or a corroded fitting |
| Brown water from hot and cold taps | Old galvanized pipe, not only the heater |
| Brown water from hot only | Rust inside the tank |
| Pilot will not stay lit | Thermocouple or draft problem |
| Hot water fades quickly | Sediment, dip tube or an element |
Cost factors
- Fuel type, size and efficiency
- Updating galvanized nipples, valves and connectors at the heater
- Vent connector and draft check for gas units
- Tight closets that limit tank height or width
- The city plumbing permit and disposal of the old tank
The City of Hapeville lists a residential plumbing permit on its Public Works Permits and Applications page; City Hall is at 3468 North Fulton Avenue (404-669-2100). The city's Water Department maintains the line from the main up to and including the meter, and the line from the meter to the house is the owner's. Ask the plumber whether the permit is in the price. In a house this age, also ask whether the quote assumes the existing vent and gas cock can be reused, or whether those parts are being replaced. That keeps the final bill from creeping up once the old tank is out. If the plumber spots old galvanized pipe running through the house, a separate conversation about repiping may be worth having later, but it does not have to happen the same day.
Water Heater Replacement questions in Hapeville
Who issues the permit for a water heater replacement here?
Does an older house make the replacement more involved?
Who fixes a leak between the water meter and the house?
Why does my hot water come out rusty or brown?
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