The water heater closet
A water heater that heats with the air around it
A heat pump water heater moves heat from the room into the tank instead of making it with a flame or a coil, so it uses far less electricity than a standard electric tank.
Most of the work is deciding where it lives. The unit cools and dries the air near it and needs room to breathe, a drain for condensate and a 240-volt circuit, though some smaller models plug into a standard outlet. A closet with a louvered door, a garage corner or a utility room all work. A sealed closet doesn't.
What to check before the swap
- How cold the garage gets in January, since a cold space makes the unit lean on its backup element
- Whether the old unit's flue can be capped cleanly through the roof
- Where the condensate can drain by gravity
- How much hot water the household really uses
What changes the cost
What moves the price of a water heater
The unit is one line of the estimate. The rest is what the closet and the old heater leave behind.
The unit you choose
Capacity and model, from a compact one for two people to a larger one for a full house.
Circuit and panel space
A new 240-volt circuit and a free breaker slot, or a panel that needs attention first.
Venting and drain
Capping the old flue and finding a drain path for condensate can be simple or a day of work.
Access
A heater in an attic, a tight closet or a spot without a door wide enough takes longer to move.
No prices on this page: they depend on your house. How we write them is on the pricing page.
How it goes
A water heater, start to finish
- 01
Step 1: Walk-through
We look at where the heater is, the air around it, the drain and the panel.
- 02
Step 2: Written plan
The unit, the circuit, the venting and what is not included, with a start date you pick.
- 03
Step 3: Swap day
The old heater is drained and removed, the new one is set, wired and tested. Hot water is off for part of a day.
- 04
Step 4: Inspection and walk-through
We show you the settings, the filter, the drain and the shutoffs.
Permits and rules
Replacing a water heater needs a permit, and the electrical circuit is inspected. We pull the permit and schedule the inspection.
Disconnecting a gas line is plumbing work. Where a licensed plumber or the gas company has to be involved, the written plan says so.
Questions about this room
Will it work in a cold garage?
It will, but on the coldest nights it leans more on its backup element. Many models have a mode for that. We'll tell you if another spot in the house is a better home for it.
Is it loud?
About like a dehumidifier. That matters for a closet next to a bedroom, so we talk about placement.
Can I wait until mine fails?
You can, but a failed heater means a rushed choice. If yours is old, an early swap lets you pick the unit and the day.
Does it need maintenance?
A filter to rinse and a drain to check, usually a couple of times a year. We write it on the one-page record.
Is your water heater the first room?
Tell us how old it is and where it sits. We'll tell you what the swap involves.