Water HeaterReplacement & Installation
Cold showers and a rusty tank in the garage aren't something to live with. Our Hollywood-based crew shows up, tells you straight whether a repair still makes sense or a new unit is the smarter move, then handles the swap, the permit, and the haul-away, usually the same day you call, throughout Broward and the surrounding tri-county area.
Six signs your water heater is done
Plenty of heaters just need a thermostat or a heating element and keep going for years. Others are past that point, quietly failing in ways a part swap won't fix. Here's how we tell the difference, and how you can spot the warning signs before a leak turns into water damage.
Approaching Or Past Ten Years
Standard tank heaters are built for roughly eight to twelve years, and South Florida's mineral-heavy water tends to shorten that lifespan. Past the ten-year mark, we usually recommend planning a replacement before a failure catches you off guard.
Discolored Hot Water
Rusty or metallic-tasting water coming from the hot side, not the cold, means the tank lining is breaking down internally. That corrosion only gets worse, and it's usually a sign the tank itself is nearing failure.
Puddling Under The Tank
Water collecting at the base almost always means a hairline crack has formed in the tank itself, not a loose fitting. Once the vessel is cracked, replacement is the only reliable fix before it lets go completely.
You Keep Calling For The Same Fix
If a heating element, thermostat, or valve has already been swapped once or twice, sediment buildup inside the tank is likely stressing parts faster than they can be replaced. A new unit stops the pattern rather than treating it repeatedly.
Hot Water Never Lasts
Constantly running cold mid-shower, or waiting several minutes for hot water to arrive, usually means the unit is either failing internally or was undersized for your household from day one. A properly sized replacement or a tankless setup solves it for good.
Sometimes A Repair Wins
A younger unit with one isolated failure often doesn't need a full replacement at all. In those cases our water heater repair team will say so plainly and fix the actual part instead of upselling a new tank.
Choosing between tank and tankless
A conventional tank is the faster, lower-cost path, especially when you're swapping like for like and need hot water restored quickly. Tankless units cost more to install and often require a larger gas line or added electrical capacity, but they deliver hot water on demand indefinitely and free up closet or garage space. We look at your household size, fuel source, and where the unit sits before recommending either option, and we'll never steer you toward the pricier system just to raise the ticket. Questions before you decide? Reach us anytime through our contact page.
From old tank to hot water, six steps
Assess Your Setup
We look at household size, existing fuel line, and the physical space available before recommending a capacity and style, whether that's a mid-size tank or a tankless unit matched to your flow rate.
File The Permit
Water heater swaps require a permit throughout Broward and the surrounding counties. We file it and schedule the inspection up front so the job stays legal and doesn't hold up an insurance claim later.
Shut Down And Remove
Power and water are shut off, the old tank is drained and disconnected, and we carry it out for disposal, garage, closet, or attic, whatever the location requires.
Set The New Unit
The replacement goes in with a drip pan, TPR discharge line, expansion tank, and hurricane strapping wherever local code calls for it, the exact details an inspector checks first.
Fill, Purge, Test
We refill the lines, bleed out trapped air, fire the unit up, and confirm temperature and every connection are working correctly before calling the job finished.
Warranty On Paper
You leave with a written parts-and-labor warranty and an itemized invoice. If the old heater's failure caused any water damage, we document it for your insurance claim.
Six factors behind the final number
We don't throw out a ballpark figure sight unseen. Here's what actually shapes the cost of your job, and you'll see the total before we ever touch a wrench.
- Tank capacity: a smaller unit for a couple costs less than a large-capacity tank sized for a busy household.
- Fuel source: gas installs involve venting and gas-line work that electric units simply don't need.
- Tank versus tankless: a direct tank swap is quick, while a tankless conversion may call for upsized gas lines or a new circuit.
- Code items: missing drain pans, expansion tanks, or strapping add scope if your old setup didn't have them.
- Access: a ground-level garage job goes faster than one tucked into a cramped attic hatch.
- Permit and disposal: both are baked into the quote, so nothing extra shows up on the invoice later.
Hollywood-based, tri-county reach
Home Base: Broward
- Hollywood
- Fort Lauderdale
- Pembroke Pines
- Davie
- Miramar
- Plantation
Miami-Dade
- Miami
- Aventura
- Hallandale Beach
Palm Beach
- Boca Raton
- Deerfield Beach
- Pompano Beach
What Hollywood-area customers say
"Our tank started leaking on a Sunday morning and I figured we'd be stuck without hot water for days. They had a replacement in by that afternoon, permit filed, and cleaned up like nothing happened."
"They talked me through why tankless made sense for our family instead of just quoting the more expensive option outright. No pressure, just facts, and the install itself was clean and quiet."
"Honestly expected a sales pitch for a new unit, but the technician said mine only needed a new element and could go another few years. That kind of honesty earned my next call when it did finally go."
"Our old heater was crammed into a tiny attic hatch and I was dreading the whole process. Their crew added the strapping and drain pan we were missing and passed inspection on the first try."
Water Heater Replacement FAQ
How fast can you actually get a new heater in?
Most straightforward tank swaps in an easy-to-reach spot are finished in two to three hours, and since we stock common sizes on the truck, that usually happens the same day you call. Tankless conversions take longer, sometimes most of a day, because they can involve new gas line sizing or an added electrical circuit. Tight attic or closet installs also add time. We give you a realistic estimate once we've seen the setup in person, not a guess over the phone.
Is a permit actually required for this?
Yes, in Hollywood and throughout Broward and the neighboring counties, a water heater replacement needs a permit and an inspection because it involves gas, electrical, and water connections. Skipping it can create real problems if you ever file an insurance claim or sell the home. We file the permit as part of the job and schedule the inspection so everything, including the drain pan, expansion tank, and strapping, is up to current code.
Should I upgrade to tankless when I replace?
It comes down to your household. Tankless units heat water as needed, so you never run dry, they take up far less space, and they typically outlast a tank by many years. The catch is a higher install cost and, on gas models, occasionally a larger gas line. If your family regularly runs out of hot water or you're staying in the home long term, the upgrade often pays for itself. If you just need reliable hot water back on a tighter budget, a properly sized tank is still a solid choice. We'll lay out both options honestly before you decide.
What size unit is right for my house?
For a tank, it depends on how many people live in the home and how much hot water you use at peak times. A smaller household may be fine with a compact tank, while a larger family with multiple bathrooms usually needs more capacity. Undersize it and you'll run cold; oversize it and you're paying to heat water you don't use. Tankless models are sized by flow rate rather than gallons. During our visit, we check your fixtures and usage patterns and recommend a size that actually fits how your household lives.
What happens to the old heater once it's out?
We take care of it start to finish. Our team drains, disconnects, and carries the old unit out, whether it's sitting in a garage, a closet, or up in the attic, and hauls it off for proper disposal or recycling. You're never stuck moving a heavy, water-filled tank yourself or arranging a separate dump run. That removal is already built into the quoted price you approve.
Request A Quote
Cold showers don't have to be your problem today
From a fast tank swap to a full tankless upgrade, we size the job correctly, file the permit, install to code, and haul away the old unit. Hollywood Emergency Plumbing SFL is licensed and insured, backed by a written warranty, and serving homes across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach.
Call (954) 613-1060