My gas water heater is failing. Is a heat pump the right swap?
For a lot of homes, yes. A heat-pump water heater moves heat from the air into the water instead of burning gas, so it uses much less electricity than a standard electric tank, and nothing burns in your garage.
It is not a like-for-like swap. It needs air, a drain, usually a 240-volt circuit and a capped gas line. Whether your house suits one is a ten-minute conversation at the visit, not a guess from a photo.
What we look at
- The heater you have now and its age
- The space around it and how air moves there
- The panel and the distance to it
- The nearest drain
- The gas line and what else it feeds
When to plan
Signs your gas water heater is on its way out
A planned swap leaves time to check rebates and pick a day. A failed heater takes some of that away.
Water at the base
A puddle under the tank usually means the tank itself has failed. That one is a replace, not a repair.
Rust-colored hot water
Rust in the hot tap only can mean the tank is corroding from inside.
Rumbling or popping
Sediment baked onto the bottom of the tank makes noise as it heats. It is a sign of age and hard water.
A pilot that keeps going out
It can be a thermocouple or a gas valve. Worth a visit before you decide anything.
Hot water that runs short
A tank that used to last through two showers and now doesn’t may have a failed part or a lot of scale.
A label with an old date
The date is on the tank’s rating label. Send us a photo and we’ll read it with you.
Does it fit
Where a heat-pump heater works, and where it needs a plan
A garage
The easy case. There is air, usually a floor drain nearby, and room for a taller unit.
A closet or utility room
Works with a louvered door or a duct, so the unit can draw air. We measure first.
A full panel
It can still be done. A panel upgrade is its own line on the plan, with its own price.
A rental or a shared wall
Ask the owner to read the plan. The sound and the cool air matter more in a small space.
Safety first
If you smell gas, leave the house first
Don’t flip a switch or light anything. Get everyone out, call your gas utility from outside, then call us.
Heat-pump questions
Will it fit where my gas tank is now?
Maybe. A heat-pump unit is usually taller than a gas tank and needs room for air to move. A closet can work with a louvered door or a duct. We measure it at the visit rather than guess.
Does a heat pump water heater work in a garage in winter?
It takes heat from the air around it, so a garage works. Most units have a backup heating element that takes over when the air is very cold, and we check the model against your garage at the visit.
Who does the electrical work?
The new circuit and any panel work are done by a licensed electrician we work with, and they have their own line on your written plan. We handle the plumbing, the drain and the gas cap.
Should I repair my gas water heater or replace it?
A leak from the tank itself means replace. A part that has failed, like a thermostat or a gas valve, can be repaired. We tell you which one it is before you decide, and we say if a repair only buys you a little time.
See if your house suits one
Send a photo of the heater and its label, or ask for a home visit. We will tell you what the swap involves.