Licensed · Veteran-Owned · Master Plumber MP211014

Water Heater Installation & Replacement in Gwinnett County, GA

A tank leaking across the floor, rusty water at the taps, or a unit past ten years that can't keep up — once a water heater is done, patching it just delays the flood. Stars and Pipes Plumbing Atlanta installs and replaces gas and electric tank water heaters across Gwinnett County — permitted, code-compliant, old unit hauled away — for one upfront flat price. Veteran-owned, master-licensed (MP211014).

Call 770-398-STAR
Old Richmond water heater pulled out for replacement by Stars and Pipes Plumbing Atlanta, with the company van on site in Gwinnett County, GA

Signs it's time to replace your water heater

  • The tank is 10+ years old

    A standard tank lasts about 8–12 years; past that, failure is a matter of when, not if — and replacing on your schedule beats a burst tank on its own.

  • Water pooling around the base

    The tank has corroded through from the inside. A leaking tank body can't be repaired — only replaced.

  • Rusty or metallic-smelling hot water

    The tank is rusting internally, usually after the anode rod is spent. Once the tank itself is corroding, it's on borrowed time.

  • Runs out of hot water fast

    Sediment stealing tank volume, a failed heating element, or a unit that was undersized for the household from day one.

  • Rumbling or popping from the tank

    Hardened sediment on the tank floor overheating — it accelerates corrosion and signals a tank near the end.

  • Repeated repairs in a short span

    When repair costs start stacking up against the price of a new unit, replacement is the better long-term value.

  • T&P relief valve constantly dripping

    Over-pressure or thermal expansion with no expansion tank — often corrected to code as part of a proper replacement.

  • Lukewarm water at the hottest setting

    A failing element or thermostat on a unit near end of life, where a full replacement makes more sense than another repair.

Rated 5.0 by Local Homeowners

What our customers say

Repair or replace?

A newer tank with one failed part is often worth repairing. Once the tank is leaking, rusting, or a decade old, replacement is the better long-term value — and we'll tell you honestly which side you're on.

Repair usually makes sense when…

  • The tank is under about 8–10 years old
  • One component failed — an element, thermostat, or thermocouple
  • The leak is at a valve or fitting, not the tank body
  • The repair costs a fraction of a new unit

Lean toward replacement when…

  • The tank is 10+ years old or leaking from the body itself
  • You have rusty hot water at every tap
  • It has needed repeated repairs
  • You want to right-size the tank or move to a more efficient unit

What to expect

  1. Right-size the unit to your household and confirm gas or electrical capacity, with a flat price before we start
  2. Drain and disconnect the old tank and haul it away for recycling
  3. Set the new tank with a code drip pan and drain line where the location requires one
  4. Install a thermal expansion tank and bring the T&P discharge line up to code
  5. Add a gas sediment trap or verify the electric circuit, then fill, purge the air, and test
  6. Pull the permit and leave the install clean and ready for inspection

What it costs: One upfront, flat price covers the unit, expansion tank, pan, connections, permit, and haul-away — approved before we start. No hourly meter and no surprise add-ons.

Call 770-398-STAR

Brands & parts we service

Brands

  • Rheem
  • A. O. Smith
  • Bradford White
  • State
  • Bosch

Common parts we replace

  • thermal expansion tanks
  • T&P relief valves
  • drip pans
  • gas sediment traps
  • shutoff valves
  • dielectric unions
  • heating elements
  • vent connectors

Frequently asked questions

How long does a water heater last, and when should I replace it?

A standard tank water heater typically lasts 8–12 years. Once it passes ten, or you see rusty water, pooling at the base, or rumbling from sediment, replacement is usually the smart call — a planned swap is far cheaper than the water damage a ruptured tank causes.

Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Georgia?

Yes. Gwinnett and the surrounding jurisdictions require a plumbing permit for a water heater replacement, and inspectors expect a proper drip pan where needed, a code T&P discharge line, and a thermal expansion tank on a closed system. We pull the permit and install to code so the work stays inspected and your warranty stays intact.

Should I get a 40- or 50-gallon water heater?

As a rule of thumb, a 40-gallon tank suits a household of 2–3 and a 50-gallon suits 3–5, but real sizing depends on simultaneous demand — a big soaking tub, multiple showers at once, or teenagers push you larger. We size it to how your home actually uses hot water, not just headcount.

Should I replace with gas or electric?

Usually you replace like-for-like, because switching fuels means adding a gas line and venting or upgrading the electrical circuit. Gas units recover hot water faster; electric units cost less to install and are simpler. If you're considering a switch, we'll price both paths honestly, including the extra work each requires.

Do you haul away the old water heater?

Yes — removal, draining, and disposal of the old unit are included in the flat price. We take it for recycling and leave the space clean, so you're not left moving a heavy, water-logged tank yourself.

Why does code require an expansion tank and a drip pan?

On a closed system with a backflow preventer or check valve, water expands as it heats with nowhere to go, spiking pressure and stressing the T&P valve — an expansion tank absorbs that. A drip pan with a drain protects finished space below when the heater sits in an attic, a closet, or over living areas. Both are standard on a code-compliant Georgia install.

How long does a water heater installation take?

A like-for-like tank swap is usually 2–4 hours on site. Relocating the unit, upsizing a gas line, or adding a pan and drain where none existed can extend it. You'll get an honest time along with the flat price before we begin.

Is it worth going tankless instead of another tank?

It can be, especially for high-use homes that value endless hot water and long life — but a tankless conversion adds gas-line and venting work, so the upfront cost is higher. If a tank fits your budget and demand, it's the simpler swap; ask us and we'll walk through both so you can decide.

Water heater installation across Gwinnett County

The units we pull out share a story: a decade-plus tank in a Snellville or Lawrenceville basement, sediment-choked from years of hard water, or a rusted heater tucked in a Duluth attic where a leak would land in the living room below. We right-size the replacement to how the home actually uses hot water and set it to Georgia code — pan, expansion tank, and T&P discharge included — wherever you are across the Gwinnett County homes we cover.

The same hard-water sediment that ends a tank early is behind plenty of the other plumbing wear we’re called out for, so we check the system pressure on every swap. On a gas unit the fuel side is its own trade — if you’re switching from electric or the existing supply is undersized, running or upsizing that gas line is handled by the same licensed crew rather than a second contractor.

Where we work

Cities we serve across Metro Atlanta

  • Lawrenceville
  • Lilburn
  • Tucker
  • Snellville
  • Dunwoody
  • Doraville
  • Johns Creek
  • Suwanee
  • Norcross
  • Buford
  • Loganville
  • Duluth
  • Grayson
  • Decatur
  • Stone Mountain
  • Cumming
  • Buckhead
  • Peachtree Corners
  • Sandy Springs
  • Alpharetta
  • Roswell
  • Marietta
  • Brookhaven

Need water heater installation today?

Talk to a licensed plumber now — upfront pricing, no surprises.

Call 770-398-STAR