If the tank itself is leaking, stop the water first. Close the cold-water valve on top of the heater, turn off its breaker or gas, and call us on our 24/7 line. We offer same-day appointments when available, and we can plan the swap for the same visit as the diagnosis when parts are on hand.
Water heater replacement means removing the old tank and installing a new one that matches your fuel, space, venting and household demand. It is a different decision from a repair. You are choosing 10 or more years of hot water, so the size, type and install details matter as much as the day you pick.
A 1970s house, a 1990s tank: how old is the water heater really?
Hanahan grew from 8,376 residents in 1970 to 13,224 in 1980, so a lot of homes here are now roughly 45 to 55 years old. The house may be that old. The water heater almost never is. Tanks usually last about 8 to 12 years, which means yours has probably been replaced once or twice, and nobody wrote down when.
The data plate on the side of the tank carries the manufacture date. Many brands stamp a serial that starts with a letter for the month and two digits for the year, so a serial beginning with D14 would mean April 2014 under that common scheme. Formats differ by brand, so read the manufacturer's note on the plate or search the brand with the word serial.
If your tank is past 10 years, a leak is a notice, not a fluke. The steel liner has done its job and spent it.
A like-for-like swap is not exempt from the details. The relief valve discharge, the drain pan where one is needed and any new venting are items the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC), as modified by South Carolina, addresses. The City of Hanahan lists that code on its Building Codes page.
Ask the City of Hanahan Building and Codes department whether a replacement at your address needs a permit. We will not guess for you.
Sources: City of Hanahan, Building Codes and SC LLR, Building Codes in Effect for South Carolina. Checked October 2026.
Tank failure: what to do before we arrive
A failed tank can release 40 to 50 gallons in a short time. Treat it as a flood.
Kill the energy source
Electric: breaker off. Gas: control knob to OFF. If you smell gas, leave, call 911 and Dominion Energy from outside.
Close the cold inlet
Clockwise on the valve above the tank. If it will not seat, turn the main shutoff at your house clockwise until it stops. If you cannot find or close it, call Charleston Water System at (843) 727-6800.
Open a hot tap upstairs
After the cold inlet is closed, open one upstairs hot tap so the tank can empty. Skip this if you are standing in water.
Move what water can ruin
Boxes, stored paint, electronics, and anything on carpet. Photograph first for your insurer.
Do not drain it yourself into a floor drain with live power
Water near wiring is a shock risk. Leave the draining to us.
Repair or replace: a decision table
Use this to check what you are told, by us or anyone else.
| Situation | Repair | Replace |
|---|---|---|
| Tank under 6 years old, single failed part | Usually the right call | Rarely worth it |
| Tank 8 to 12 years old, single failed part | Reasonable if the tank is dry and the repair is small | Worth pricing both |
| Tank 12 years or older with any repair needed | Often money spent twice | Usually the better value |
| Water on the floor from the tank body | Not possible | Yes |
| Rust-colored hot water at every hot tap | Short term only | Likely, the tank is corroding |
| Second repair in a year | Hard to justify | Yes |
| Flood reached the burner or controls | Not recommended | Yes, in most cases |
| Home needs more hot water than before | Does not fix it | Resize at replacement |
Costs vary. Replacement usually costs several times a repair, which is why the age and condition of the tank decide the answer.
Water or sewage problem right now?Call the 24/7 line. A licensed plumber, a clear price before work starts.
Call (855) 575-2890A leaking tank: when the leak decides it for you
Most water heater leaks that end in replacement are corrosion leaks. The steel liner is glass-coated, and over years the coating cracks, the anode rod is consumed, and water reaches bare steel. A pinhole starts a weep, minerals and rust partly seal it, and then it reopens larger. By the time a puddle is visible, the shell is thin all over.
We still check the cheap suspects first, because a loose fitting or a failed relief valve can look just like a tank leak. If the tank is clean and dry above the base and the seep comes from the bottom, we confirm with a moisture meter. A tank leak cannot be welded, sealed or patched safely.
If you want a second set of eyes on a possible hidden leak in the room, our leak detection team can check the supply piping before the new tank goes in.
After a flood: when the heater has to go
Hanahan sits at about 16 feet of elevation and several neighborhoods have tidal water behind them. NWS Charleston recorded 15 to 20 inches of rain across the tri-county area in the October 2015 flood. A water heater on a garage floor or in a crawlspace can end up in the water path in that kind of event.
Floodwater that covered the gas control, burner or the electric element wiring is generally treated as a replace-and-do-not-relight situation. Controls and electrical parts are not designed to be dried out and restarted. Do not relight it, and do not trust the old connections. Call us and photograph the water line on the unit and the wall for your insurance claim.
Heat pump water heaters: one honest paragraph
A heat pump water heater moves heat from the surrounding air into the tank, and the U.S. Department of Energy says it can be two to three times more energy efficient than a conventional electric resistance heater. DOE also says the unit needs a space that stays between 40 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit and at least 1,000 cubic feet of air around it.
A closet is usually too small and a garage is often fine. The unit makes some noise and drips condensate. Whether a utility or state incentive applies is something to ask Dominion Energy or the state energy office directly, since we do not verify rebates for you. Gas to heat pump is a bigger job than a like-for-like swap, so call and we will talk through your layout.
What size and type: the decisions we walk through
Four choices drive the new heater, and each comes up on every replacement.
Fuel
Gas stays gas unless you want to cap the line. Electric stays electric unless you have the panel capacity for a change. Switching fuel is a project, not a swap.
Capacity
A household of two and a household of five do not need the same tank. We ask about showers, tubs and how many people use hot water at once.
Footprint
Tall narrow models fit tight closets. Wider short models fit under low ceilings. Measure from the floor to the first obstruction.
Extras
Drain pan, expansion tank, new flex connectors, relief valve and discharge pipe, and a vent check. Skipping these on an old install saves little and costs later.
How a replacement day runs
This is the typical sequence for a tank swap.
- 1
Confirm the match
Fuel, size, venting and clearances checked against the old unit and what you want.
- 2
Isolate and drain
Power or gas off, water off, tank drained to a safe location.
- 3
Disconnect and remove
Old tank out, old fittings inspected, any corroded connectors cut off.
- 4
Set and connect
New tank placed, new connectors, relief valve with proper discharge, vent reconnected and checked.
- 5
Fill, purge and test
Air purged from lines, leak check, temperature set, and we show you the shutoff, the relief valve and the data plate.
What affects the price of a water heater replacement
Replacement runs from a straight swap to a rebuilt closet, and these are the drivers.
- Unit type and size
- A 40-gallon standard tank costs much less than a high-efficiency gas or a heat pump model.
- Venting changes
- Moving from atmospheric to power vent, or relining a flue, adds parts and time.
- Code items
- Expansion tank, drain pan, discharge line and seismic or strap requirements depend on the plumbing code and your inspector.
- Access and removal
- Attic and crawlspace installs, tight stairs and haul-away all add labor.
- Permit
- Ask the City of Hanahan Building and Codes department whether your job needs one. A permit adds time and fees.
Insurance often covers sudden water damage from a burst or failed tank and sometimes covers the tank if the cause was a covered event. It rarely covers a tank that simply wore out. Ask your carrier before you replace, and keep photos.
We give a clear price before work starts, so describe your current heater and we will price both repair and replacement.
Planning the swap with the rest of your plumbing
A replacement is a good moment to look at what else connects to the tank. If you are comparing a regular tank with an on-demand unit, our tankless water heater page lays out the gas, vent and flow questions. Our installation page covers expansion tanks, venting and the relief valve in more detail.
We serve Hanahan first, and we also serve Goose Creek and nearby towns for the same swap. If you are unsure whether to fix or replace, our repair service will tell you honestly.
Frequently asked questions
Do you handle water heater replacement emergencies at night or on weekends in Hanahan?
Yes. Our 24/7 dispatch takes failed-tank calls at any hour, and we offer same-day appointments when available. We stop the water first, then talk through the replacement.
How do I read the date on my water heater?
Find the data plate on the side of the tank. The serial number usually encodes the month and year, often as a letter and two digits at the start, but each brand does it differently. Send us the brand and serial and we will read it.
How long does a replacement take?
A like-for-like tank swap generally takes a few hours. Changing fuel, venting or location takes longer. We tell you before we start.
Can I switch from gas to a heat pump water heater?
Yes, in many homes. It needs the right space and an electrical circuit, and the gas line is capped. We cover this on a site visit.
Should I replace the expansion tank and relief valve too?
If the old ones are corroded, dripping or undersized for the new heater, yes. They cost little next to the tank.
Does a flooded water heater need replacing?
If the water reached the burner, gas control or electrical parts, most plumbers replace it. Do not relight it.
Do I need a permit for a replacement?
Ask the City of Hanahan Building and Codes department. Rules can depend on the type of work, and we will not guess for you.