Water Heater Repair in Snellville, GA

Most Snellville water heater problems come from one part, such as an element, a thermostat, a thermocouple or a valve, and a plumber can usually replace it in one visit. A tank leaking through its wall must be replaced. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Snellville.

Snellville is an established southern Gwinnett suburb on US 78. Census estimates put the median build year at 1991, with about 30% of homes built before 1980, so heaters range from replacements in older ranch homes to aging originals in 1990s subdivisions. Gwinnett County's Department of Water Resources supplies water and sewer from Lake Lanier, disinfected with chlorine; the water is soft, about 1.34 grains per gallon on average. Gwinnett maintains the main and the meter, and everything on the customer's side is the owner's. Snellville issues its own building permits and does city inspections, and plumbing subcontractors file subcontractor affidavits.

Do these first

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.

Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Snellville.

(404) 637-2993

Symptoms and causes

Symptom	Likely cause
Cold water from an electric heater	Element, thermostat, high-limit reset
Gas pilot keeps going out	Thermocouple, flame sensor or draft
Hot water runs out quickly	Lower element, sediment, dip tube
Crackling during heating	Sediment at the bottom
Relief valve leak	Worn valve or pressure
Rusty hot water only	Anode rod or tank corrosion

What drives the cost

The part involved. Elements and thermocouples are routine.
Older connections. Corroded nipples and stiff shutoffs add time in pre-1980 homes.
Location. Attic and closet installs are slower.
Permit. Snellville's page doesn't say whether a stand-alone heater replacement needs one; the City Building Inspector's office at (770) 985-3513 can confirm.

Snellville has a local amendment to the plumbing code covering water efficiency, so a replacement fixture or appliance may need to meet it; the plumber should know the current rule.

Water Heater Repair questions in Snellville

Do I need a permit when a water heater gets replaced here?

Snellville issues its own building permits and does city inspections, but its page doesn't say whether a water heater replacement alone needs one. Call the City Building Inspector at (770) 985-3513, or let the plumber confirm.

Our county water is soft. Does that change anything for the anode rod?

Gwinnett water averages about 1.34 grains per gallon, so scale is light, but anode rods still wear. A rod check during a Snellville repair can add life to a sound tank.

At what age does fixing a tank stop making sense?

About 30% of Snellville homes predate 1980. If a tank past ten years is leaking or rusting, replacement is usually the better spend.

The pilot on my gas water heater keeps dying. What is the usual cause?

A worn thermocouple or dirty flame sensor is most common. Poor draft can also put out the flame, and a plumber checks each before replacing parts.