Water heater repair and replacement in Murfreesboro
Water in Rutherford County comes through limestone, and it tends to be hard. Over the years that leaves a layer of mineral sediment on the bottom of a tank, and the heater works harder to do the same job. Most of the water heaters we get called to in Murfreesboro are somewhere between eight and fifteen years old and have been talking to their owners for a while through popping, rumbling, or lukewarm showers.
If yours has gone cold, is leaking, or is just old, we can tell you whether it is worth repairing.
Repair or replace
| Situation | Usually worth repairing | Usually worth replacing |
|---|---|---|
| Age under about 8 years | Yes, if the problem is an element, thermostat or igniter | Only if the tank itself has failed |
| Age 10 to 15 years | Only for a cheap, simple fix | Often, especially if it has started to leak |
| Water at the base of the tank | If it is a loose fitting or the relief valve | If the tank shell is leaking |
| Rental or short-term house | When a fast fix keeps a tenant in hot water | When it keeps failing between tenants |
Why the sediment matters
When minerals settle on the bottom of a gas tank, the burner heats the water through a layer of crust, which wastes fuel and cooks the tank. In an electric tank the lower element gets buried and burns out. That is why a flush now and then really does extend the life of a heater, and why a tank that has never been touched in ten years sometimes does not survive being drained.
We will tell you if we think draining an old tank is a risk. Sometimes the honest advice is to leave it alone and plan the replacement.
Closets, garages and crawlspaces
Where the heater lives changes the job more than the brand does. In a newer house off Old Fort Parkway it is usually in a garage or a closet, easy to reach and easy to pan. In an older house near downtown it may be in a crawlspace or a tight utility room that was never meant for a modern tank, and getting the old one out can take as much time as hooking up the new one.
For rentals near MTSU, the heater is often tucked wherever the original builder had room. If you own one of those houses, a quick look at the relief valve and the pan before a tenant moves in costs very little compared with a ceiling replacement.
What drives the price of a replacement
- Tank size and whether it is gas or electric
- How hard the old unit is to remove and the new one to place
- Whether the venting, gas line or electrical supply needs work
- Whether a pan, drain line or expansion tank has to be added
- Tank versus tankless, which is a large difference up front
More heater questions
Should I flush my tank every year?
On a young tank, yes. It clears sediment before it hardens. On a tank that has never been flushed and is over ten years old, we would rather talk first, because disturbing old sediment can start a leak.
My heater is gas. Do I need to worry about the flue?
The vent has to draw properly. We check it on every gas installation, because a poorly drawing vent is a safety problem and not only a comfort one.
What a replacement in Murfreesboro includes
- Shutting off and draining the old unit and hauling it away
- A drain pan with a line to a proper discharge point where the layout allows it
- A temperature and pressure relief valve with correct discharge piping
- New shutoff valves and connections, tested before we leave
- An expansion tank where your system calls for one
Water heater questions
Tank or tankless?
A tank costs less up front and is simple to service. Tankless saves space and gives continuous hot water, but costs more to install and needs yearly descaling in hard water. We install both and will tell you which fits your house.
Can you move the heater to a better spot?
Often yes, depending on venting, gas and water lines. Garage or closet installs are straightforward. A crawlspace or attic install takes more thought.
More plumbing in Murfreesboro
- Leak Detection & RepairWeeping joints, pinholes and slab leaks in homes from downtown to Old Fort Parkway.
- Drain Cleaning & SewerSlow drains and main line backups cleared at the source, including older downtown sewer lines.
- Remodel & New Build PlumbingRough-in, top-out and finish plumbing for Murfreesboro remodels, additions and new homes.
- Fixtures & InstallsFaucets, toilets, sinks and disposals set level and tested in Murfreesboro homes and rentals.
- Repiping & Supply LinesReplacing worn galvanized and copper lines in older Murfreesboro homes, one run or the whole house.
Water Heaters nearby
- Water Heaters in SmyrnaReplacing aging 1990s and 2000s water heaters in Smyrna, with the drain pan and relief line done right.
- Water Heaters in La VergneWater heater swaps in La Vergne garages and closets, with the old tank hauled out.
- Water Heaters in EaglevilleWater heaters in Eagleville farmhouses and newer homes, replaced with a proper pan and relief line.
- Water Heaters in NolensvilleTank and tankless water heater replacements in Nolensville, from old farmhouses to new builds.
- All water heaters service areasSee every city we cover for this service.
- Plumber in Murfreesboro, TNAll our work in Murfreesboro, from one page.
Water Heaters in Murfreesboro?
(423) 227-6947Call or text, or send us a message and we will get back to you.