Vinings is unincorporated, so building and trade permits for a water heater replacement go through Cobb County's Building Division rather than a city. Many homes here date from the 1990s, so original and first-replacement tanks are at the age where they fail. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Vinings.
Vinings is an affluent unincorporated community on the Chattahoochee across from Buckhead's Paces area; ZIP 30339 mails as Atlanta. The median home was built in 1996, and about 20.7% predate 1980. Cobb County supplies water and sewer and issues permits, and Atlanta Gas Light is the assumed gas pipe utility.
What to do now
- Close the cold supply at the valve above the heater.
- Turn off energy: breaker for electric, control to off for gas.
- Check below. Condos and townhomes may have a heater above another unit; contain water quickly and alert neighbors or the HOA if it is spreading.
- Find the label and note the size, fuel and date.
- If you smell gas, leave the building, then call 911 and Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 from outside. AGL service here is assumed; your bill confirms it.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Water in the pan or on the floor | Tank or fitting leak |
| Rusty hot water | Tank corrosion |
| Popping and rumbling | Sediment |
| Hot water runs out quickly | Element, dip tube or sediment |
| Relief valve dripping | Pressure, temperature or a worn valve |
Cost factors
- Fuel, capacity and efficiency
- Closet or attic access in condos and townhomes
- Pan, drain, relief line and expansion tank
- Venting and gas connector condition
- County permit and disposal of the old heater
Cobb County Community Development's Building Division handles permitting and inspections for unincorporated Cobb ((770) 528-2060) and lists subcontractor permit applications. Cobb County Water System buys its water from the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority (Lake Allatoona and the Chattahoochee River); its previous report lists a free chlorine residual and no lead service lines identified in its area. Cobb owns the line to the meter, and the pipe from the meter to the house is the owner's. Residents can check their pipe material at cobbcounty.gov/WSLI.
When you call, mention whether you are in a single-family home, townhome or condo. Shared walls and HOA rules can affect access and venting, and the plumber can plan for that before arriving. Have the heater's size, fuel and age ready, and ask that the county permit and removal of the old tank be listed in the quote.
Water Heater Replacement questions in Vinings
Who issues the permit for a water heater replacement here?
Who fixes a leak between the water meter and the house?
How long will we be without hot water?
What size tank should replace the old one?
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