Water Heater Repair, Replacement, and Tankless
Cold shower, a puddle by the tank, or a hot water heater you know is on borrowed time? We diagnose first, repair when it makes sense, and replace when it does not. That includes tankless installs and conversions. You get the real price before we start.
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Water Heaters in Durham
Most calls fit one of these six. Tell us which sounds like yours and we will tell you what we would check first.
Gas units usually point to the pilot, the thermocouple, or the gas valve. Electric units point to an element, a thermostat, or the high-limit reset. We find the failed part and tell you whether it is worth fixing on a unit this age.
Older Durham homes often have the heater in a basement or crawlspace. Damp air rusts the base and the fittings, and a slow leak can go unnoticed for months. We check the base, the connections, and the drain path, and tell you what is repairable.
Tankless units need to be descaled, and Triangle water is moderately hard. Error codes, lukewarm water, or a unit that shuts off often point to scale, a clogged filter, or a venting or gas supply problem. We service Navien and Rinnai and can look at most other brands.
Electric units are common where there is no gas service. A failed lower element or a bad thermostat means lukewarm water and a short supply. These are often a straightforward repair if the tank is sound.
A weeping T&P valve or a loose fitting can be repaired. A leaking tank cannot. Shut off the water to the heater, and call us. We will tell you which it is.
We get asked about conversions a lot. A tankless unit needs a larger gas line and its own venting, and the old flue from a tank usually will not do. We check the gas supply, the vent path, and the location, then tell you what the conversion involves before you decide.
Clear Answers
No hot water, a leak, a noise, or the age of the unit. We ask the make, the fuel, and where it sits. You get an arrival window and the price before work starts.
We find the failed part and check the age of the unit, the venting, the gas line or electrical supply, and the safety valves. If a repair makes sense we say so. If it does not, we lay out the replacement options with a price for each.
A replacement means the new unit set, connections and venting to code, a pan and drain where required, and the permit and inspection handled where Durham requires it. We test it and walk you through it before we leave.
Water Heaters in Durham Homes
Durham has some of the oldest housing in the Triangle. In neighborhoods like Trinity Park, Forest Hills, Old West Durham, and Watts-Hillandale, heaters often sit in a basement or a crawlspace, and the venting may be decades old. Those units rust at the base and the fittings tend to give out first. Moving or replacing one means checking the vent, the access, and the floor around it. South Durham, Southpoint, and the neighborhoods near RTP are newer. There the heater is usually in an attic or garage, and an attic install needs a pan and a drain line.
Not every Durham home has gas. Electric units are common where there is no gas service, and a switch to gas or to tankless means a new line or a larger one. For that, see gas line installation in Durham. Replacements are permitted and inspected where Durham County requires it, and we handle that as part of the job. If the leak you are chasing may be under the floor, see slab leak repair in Durham. Read about tankless water heaters before you decide.
Our shop is at 3460 Apex Pkwy in Apex. We work Monday through Saturday, 7:00 to 18:00, and serve Durham from Southpoint and Hope Valley to Downtown. Ask about current water heater offers on our offers page, or see our Durham plumber page for everything else.
Commercial Water Heaters in Durham
A restaurant, a brewery, or a salon cannot run without hot water. We repair, replace, and install commercial-capacity units for Durham businesses.
Dishwashing and prep need steady, high-volume hot water. We size larger tanks or banks of tankless units, and add recirculation so hot water reaches the line quickly.
Cleaning and sanitizing draw a lot of hot water at once. We size to peak demand and set up the unit so it can be serviced without shutting you down.
Shampoo bowls, restrooms, and break rooms have very different demand. We fit the unit to the building.
One water heater serving several units, or a unit per apartment. We repair and replace both, and can set up a maintenance schedule so a failure does not hit several households at once.
Helpful Details
If the unit is under about 8 years old and the problem is a part, such as an element, a thermostat, or a valve, repair usually makes sense. If it is past 10 years or the tank is leaking, replacement is the better value. We tell you which one we think it is and show you why.
Yes. We install Navien and Rinnai tankless units. A gas tankless unit needs a larger gas line and its own venting, so we check both before we quote. An electric tankless unit needs a heavy electrical supply. We tell you what the conversion takes before you decide.
A standard tank replacement is typically $2,000 to $4,000 installed, and tankless is typically $4,000 to $6,000 installed. The exact number for your home comes in writing before any work starts.
Yes. That includes descaling, error codes, and repairs. Triangle water is moderately hard, and scale is the most common reason a tankless unit loses performance. We can service most brands.
Replacements are permitted and inspected where the town or county requires it, and we handle that as part of the job.
In most cases, yes. We check access, the base, and the venting first. If a different spot would be safer or easier to service, we tell you. Call (919) 679-1275 and we will take a look.
Serving Durham and the rest of the Triangle: Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Holly Springs, Raleigh and Morrisville. Not sure we cover your address? Call (919) 679-1275 and ask.
“Matt was amazing! I've worked with many plumbing companies, and I will definitely contact Sweetwater Plumbing for all my plumbing needs moving forward.”
Keila Feracho
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“Sweetwater saved the day! I had an active leak from a water pipe in the ceiling. They fixed the leak promptly and did a great cleanup job.”
Sandy Alex
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“Chris arrived on time and made an assessment. A most conscientious and capable young man — the quality of his work was outstanding.”
Bodin Schexnayder
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“Great job. Punctual, professional, took time to explain the work, what my options were, and let me choose.”
Krista Summitt
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“Joseph was a great technician. He investigated the problem and walked me through every step of the way. So kind and patient.”
Connie Knox
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“I needed repair work done on short notice after a house inspection. Excellent work and great folks to work with.”
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