How the job runs
- 1Check the basicsbreaker for electric units, pilot and gas valve for gas tanks, error code for tankless
- 2Confirm ownershipmany Ontario tanks are rentals; the label or your bill will say so
- 3Test componentsthermocouple or flame sensor, elements and thermostats, venting and draft
- 4Inspect the tankrust at the base or water in the drip pan means replacement, not repair
- 5Restore and checkrelight or repair, then confirm temperature at a tap and a safe relief valve
01Gas, electric or tankless
Most Scarborough houses have a natural gas tank, either a conventional atmospheric model vented into the chimney or a power-vented model with a fan and plastic venting out the side wall. Condos and some townhouses run electric tanks. Tankless wall-hung heaters are increasingly common in renovated bungalows.
Each fails in its own way, and the plumber will ask which type you have before heading out.
| Typical tank life | Roughly 10 to 15 years, shorter with hard water and no flushing |
|---|---|
| Gas tank quick check | Is the pilot lit? Is there a smell of gas? If so, leave and call the gas utility |
| Rental units | The rental provider usually services its own tank |
02The rental question
For decades, water heaters in Ontario were commonly rented rather than bought. If there is a sticker from a rental company on the tank, call them first; they may be obligated to repair or replace it. If you own it, or want to buy out the rental and install your own, we can help with that.
03When repair stops making sense
A ten-year-old tank with rust weeping from the base is finished. Replacing a burner part on it only postpones a flood.
04Smell gas?
- Do not relight anything
- Leave the house and keep the door open behind you
- Call the gas utility emergency line from outside