Repaired where it makes sense, replaced when it doesn't.
Not every failing water heater needs replacing, and not every one worth replacing needs to be replaced with the same thing. We will tell you which situation you are in, including when the honest answer is that a ten-year-old tank is not worth a new part.
A finished tankless install — new copper and brass isolation valves.
Signs yours is on the way out
Hot water runs out faster than it used to.
Rusty or metallic-smelling hot water.
Rumbling or popping from the tank — that is sediment cooking on the bottom.
Damp or rust around the base, or on the pan underneath.
It is over ten years old and you have never had it serviced.
What the job involves
Diagnose honestlyA failed element, thermostat or thermocouple is a repair. A tank that is leaking from the body is not repairable and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling you a delay.
Size it properlyReplacing like-for-like is not automatic. Household size and how many fixtures run at once decide the capacity, and getting it wrong is the usual reason a new heater still runs out.
Tank or tanklessTankless saves space and gives endless hot water, but needs the right gas supply or electrical capacity. We will tell you what your place can actually take before you commit.
Permit and inspectionReplacements generally require a permit in South Florida municipalities. We pull it and see the inspection through, so the work is on record.
A tankless swap, same wall
BeforeAfter
When the gas supply and venting already suit the replacement, a tankless swap comes off and goes back on the same wall in a day. The valves underneath are the part worth paying attention to — they are what turns the next descale into a short job instead of an afternoon of draining the system.
More finished work
A new tank on new flex connections, with a pan under it. The older unit beside it is rusting at the fittings.A new tank with its expansion tank set above it.A tankless set in an attic, where most of the job is getting to it.Tankless on new copper, with its own disconnect beside it.The old tank out on the driveway, the tankless already on the wall behind.Two tankless units set side by side on a shared manifold.
Worth knowing locally
Hard water is the main enemy here — scale builds on elements and on tankless heat exchangers faster than the manufacturer's optimistic schedule assumes, which is why a descale matters more in South Florida than it does further north. Condo and HOA installs come with their own rules about pans, shut-offs and where the discharge can go, and an install that ignores them will fail inspection or get flagged by the association.
What it costs
We quote the replacement flat-rate on site once we have seen the connections, the space and what the code requires, and the permit is part of that number rather than a surprise afterward. If the repair is worth doing, we will price the repair too so you can compare the two properly.
Common questions
Is tankless worth it?
It depends on your gas line or electrical panel more than on the heater. When the supply is already adequate, it is a strong upgrade. When it is not, the upgrade cost can outweigh the benefit, and we would rather say so before you buy one.
How long should a water heater last?
Eight to twelve years for a tank in this water, longer if it has been flushed periodically. Tankless goes longer but only if it is descaled.
Can you replace it the same day?
Usually, if it is a standard swap and we can get the unit. Call early and we will tell you honestly whether it is today or tomorrow.
Let’s get it fixed.
One call gets you a real plumber, a fixed price, and a job done right. No callbacks, no surprises, no runaround.
Cornerstone Plumbing
