No hot water, a leak or an old tank? Repair or replace, gas or electric, and what a replacement involves.
Most water heater calls start one of three ways: no hot water at all, not enough of it, or water where it shouldn't be, around the base of the tank or dripping from a pipe on top. This page covers what to do first, when a repair still makes sense, and what replacing a water heater with Air & Energy involves.
If water is coming from the tank, close the cold-water valve on the pipe into the top of the heater. For an electric heater, switch off its breaker. For gas, turn the control to off. Then call us. After hours, we run emergency service on nights and weekends.
If you smell gas near a gas water heater, don't call us first. Get everyone out, don't touch switches or appliances on the way, and call 911 or your gas utility from outside. Call us once they've made it safe.
We repair water heaters as well as replace them, and a heater that's worth fixing should be fixed. What decides it is where the problem is:
Water heater repairs are billed partly flat rate and partly time and materials. We prefer time and materials, because you pay for the time and parts the job actually took. There's a fee for a repair visit, and we'll tell you what it is before we send anyone. Many repairs are finished on the first visit, often the same day, because our trucks carry common parts.
Call (941) 778-0773 and tell us what the heater is doing.
License and gas certification, pipe materials, warranty — the difference between a plumber who finds the real problem and one who just sells inventory.
Most water heater replacements are done in a single visit. In the twelve months to September 2026, about nine in ten of ours were finished in one day on site. Switching fuel, moving the heater, or going tankless can take longer, and your quote will say so.
If your heater has failed and you have no hot water, say so when you call. We'll try to get it replaced as soon as we can, and sometimes that's the same day.
Most of the water heaters we replace around here are electric tanks, and a like-for-like tank is usually the simplest job. We also install gas tank heaters, gas and electric tankless, and heat-pump water heaters.
Changing type or fuel is where the job grows. Going tankless or switching between gas and electric can mean a new gas line, new venting, or a larger electrical circuit. A heat-pump water heater draws heat from the air around it, so it needs enough space and the right spot in the house. Tankless isn't automatically the right choice for every home. We'll look at the house and explain the tradeoffs before recommending anything. Here's what tankless needs to work well.
We don't publish a water heater price, because the heater is only part of the job. Size, fuel, where it sits, and whether it needs an expansion tank, a drain pan, or gas or electrical work all move the number. You get your price in writing before anything starts, and you can take the time you need to decide.
We've been working on houses around here since 1983, and in the past year our plumbers replaced hundreds of water heaters. An Air & Energy plumber does the work, in a marked truck, on our payroll. We don't subcontract.
Air & Energy holds Florida plumbing and gas certification under one company license, CFC1429106; check it at myfloridalicense.com.
How do I know if my water heater needs replacing?
If the tank itself leaks, it needs replacing. Rusty hot water, rust on the tank, and repairs that keep coming back are the signs to plan for it. A single failed part, like an element or a valve, is usually a repair.
Can you replace my water heater today?
Sometimes. Tell us it's out when you call, and we'll get to it as soon as we can. Most replacements take a single visit once we're there.
What happens to my old water heater?
We take it out, haul it away and dispose of it as part of the replacement.
Do you work on gas water heaters?
Yes. We repair and replace gas tank heaters and install gas tankless units, under our company plumbing and gas license, CFC1429106.
Should I switch to tankless?
It depends on how much hot water the house uses at once and what the switch would take. Our tankless page walks through it, and this article compares the two.
Is there a charge to come out?
For a repair, yes. It depends on the kind of work, and we'll tell you before we send anyone. Estimates for a new water heater are free.
Do you cover Lakewood Ranch?
Yes, all of it, including the Sarasota County side like Waterside and Windward, plus Bradenton, Palmetto, Ellenton, Parrish and the rest of Manatee County.
Call and describe it: no hot water, not enough, or water where it shouldn't be. We'll tell you what it's likely to be and what happens next, before you commit to anything.