3 services · Salt Lake City
Water heaters in Salt Lake City, UT
Most tank water heaters last about 8 to 12 years. A plumber can often repair a heater that stops making hot water, but a tank that leaks from the bottom has failed and needs to be replaced. Tankless heaters last longer but cost more to install, especially if the gas line or venting has to change.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Water heaters services in Salt Lake City
Water heater repair
UrgentIf a gas water heater has no hot water, the pilot, thermocouple or gas valve is the usual cause; on an electric heater it's usually an element or thermostat. Those parts are repairable. A tank that leaks from the bottom can't be repaired and needs to be replaced.
Water heater replacement in Salt Lake City
A leaking tank or a heater past about 10 years old is usually replaced rather than repaired. A proper install includes a permit, correct venting (adjusted for altitude where needed), an expansion tank where required, a drip leg on the gas line and a relief valve discharge pipe.
Tankless water heaters in Salt Lake City
A tankless water heater heats water as it flows, so it doesn't run out, but it needs a larger gas line, its own venting and a unit rated for your elevation. Installed correctly and descaled regularly, it can outlast a tank heater.
Local conditions
Water heaters in Salt Lake City: what's different
At about 4,200 feet, gas water heaters must be set up for elevation, and hard water shortens their life. The Wasatch Fault runs along the valley, so strapped heaters and flexible connections are recommended.
Permits come from the Salt Lake City Building Services division.
Hardness varies by neighborhood because water comes from different canyon sources, and finished basements around utility rooms make leaks costly.
Older installs in Avenues and Sugar House basements may also need venting updates, and many homeowners add a softener or an expansion tank when replacing the heater.
- Water and sewer in Salt Lake City
- Salt Lake City Public Utilities provides water and sewer service.
- Permits in Salt Lake City
- Plumbing permits are issued by the Salt Lake City Building Services division.
Salt Lake City housing and plumbing
The Avenues and Sugar House have early 1900s homes with basements and older drains; newer suburbs are post-1970.
Other Salt Lake City conditions that affect plumbing
- Hard water: Scale shortens water heater life.
- Altitude and gas appliances: At about 4,200 feet, gas appliances must be set up for elevation.
- Frozen pipes: Winter inversions and cold snaps freeze exposed pipes.
- Earthquake readiness: The Wasatch Fault runs along the Salt Lake Valley, so strapped water heaters and flexible connections are recommended.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County, including Sugar House, The Avenues, Liberty Wells, Federal Heights, Rose Park, Capitol Hill. ZIP codes: 84101 · 84102 · 84103 · 84104 · 84105 · 84106.
When to call a plumber in Salt Lake City
- No hot water, or hot water that runs out much faster than it used to
- Water pooling around the base of the tank
- Rumbling or popping from the tank
- Rusty or smelly hot water
- A pilot that won't stay lit or a tankless unit showing an error code
- A heater more than 10 years old before it fails
How these problems start and how to choose between repair options is covered in the water heaters guide.
Water heaters questions in Salt Lake City
Do Salt Lake City water heaters need earthquake straps?
How long does a water heater replacement take?
More plumbing in Salt Lake City
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