Hot Water Tank Replacement & Water Heater Repair in Summerland, Penticton & the South Okanagan
No hot water, a tank leaking at the base, or a water heater that's just getting old? Fontus Plumbing & Heating repairs and replaces gas and electric hot water tanks across Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Peachland, and West Kelowna. We're based in Summerland, so we're close by. We'll tell you straight whether a repair makes sense or it's time for a new tank, size the replacement to how your household actually uses hot water, and install it cleanly and to code. Same-week replacements are often possible, depending on the schedule. We work Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, with emergency call-outs evenings and weekends when available. Labour is $125/hr, and most installs get a flat quote once we've seen the job. Call or text (250) 274-0132.
Repair or replace? We'll tell you straight
Not every water heater problem means a new tank. A failed thermostat or element on an electric tank, or a pilot or gas control issue on a gas tank, can often be repaired. A tank that's leaking from the tank itself can't be: once the inner lining rusts through, replacement is the only fix. Age matters too. Most conventional hot water tanks typically last somewhere around 10 to 15 years, and an older tank with a costly repair is usually better replaced before it lets go. We'll show you what we found and give you the options before any work goes ahead.
What a Fontus hot water tank replacement includes
- Sizing the new tank to your household and fixtures, not just matching the old label
- Gas or electric, matched to what your home is set up for
- Shutting down, draining, and removing the old tank, and taking it away
- Connecting water, gas or electrical supply, and venting for gas units, to code
- A new temperature and pressure relief valve and discharge line as part of the install
- Checking whether an expansion tank is needed, and adding one where the system calls for it
- Permits where the job requires one; we'll tell you upfront if yours does
- Filling, testing for leaks, and setting the temperature before we leave
- A quick walk-through: where the shutoff is, and how to spot trouble early
Hard water and your hot water tank
Much of the Okanagan's water carries enough minerals to leave scale and sediment in the bottom of a tank over time. Penticton's own test results put its water in the moderately hard range, and Naramata's lake water tests moderately hard too. In West Kelowna it depends on your system: water from the Powers Creek plant is soft, while the Rose Valley side is moderately hard. Sediment can make a tank rumble or pop, cut how much hot water you get, and shorten its life. Flushing the tank periodically and checking the anode rod (the part that protects the tank from rusting) can help a tank last. Ask us about it at your next visit.
Tank, tankless, or combi?
A conventional tank is simple and affordable to replace like for like. A tankless water heater heats on demand and saves space, but needs the right gas supply and venting, and big simultaneous demand can outpace a single unit. If you have a boiler, a combi boiler can handle heat and hot water in one appliance. See our tankless water heater page and our boiler page, or call and we'll talk through what fits your house.
How we quote
Labour is $125/hr. Most water heater installs get a flat quote after we see the job, so you know the number before we start. If something's acting up and the cause isn't obvious, finding it is billed at our labour rate, and we'll tell you what we found and what it will take before any repair goes ahead. Send a photo of the tank's label (make, model, and size) and it helps us quote faster.
Hot water tank and water heater services
- Gas hot water tank replacement
- Electric hot water tank replacement
- Water heater repair: thermostats, elements, gas controls, pilot and ignition issues
- Leaking tanks and leaking temperature and pressure relief valves
- No-hot-water and not-enough-hot-water calls
- Expansion tank installs
- Tank flushing and anode rod checks
- Tank-to-tankless conversions
- Rental and short-term-rental turnovers where the water heater needs attention
Signs your hot water tank needs attention
- Water pooling around the base of the tank, or a slow drip from the bottom
- The relief valve or its discharge pipe dripping or spurting
- Rusty or discoloured hot water
- Running out of hot water sooner than you used to
- Rumbling, popping, or banging from the tank as it heats
- Rust or corrosion on the tank, fittings, or venting
- The pilot keeps going out, or a gas tank smells of exhaust near the vent (if you smell gas, leave the house and call FortisBC's emergency line first)
- The tank is 10 years old or more and you've never had it looked at
Hot water tank questions
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How long does a hot water tank last?
Typically around 10 to 15 years, depending on water quality, how hard the tank works, and whether it's been maintained. Hard water and skipped flushing can shorten that. If yours is in that range and acting up, call (250) 274-0132 and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth repairing.
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My hot water tank is leaking from the bottom. What do I do right now?
Turn off the cold water supply valve on the pipe above the tank. For a gas tank, turn the gas control to off; for an electric tank, switch off its breaker. Keep clear of hot water and don't touch the relief valve. Then call or text (250) 274-0132. We take emergency call-outs evenings and weekends when available.
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Why is the relief valve on my water heater dripping?
The temperature and pressure relief valve is a safety device. A drip can mean the valve is worn, the temperature is set high, or pressure is building up as water heats, often because the system needs an expansion tank. Never cap or plug the valve. Call (250) 274-0132 and we'll find the cause.
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Do I need a permit to replace a hot water tank in BC?
Often, yes, especially for gas. In most of BC, gas appliance work, including replacing a gas hot water tank, needs a gas permit through Technical Safety BC, and some electrical work needs a permit too. We'll tell you upfront what your job needs.
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How much does hot water tank replacement cost?
It depends on the tank type, size, venting, and what the install needs. Most installs get a flat quote after we see the job, and our labour rate is $125/hr. Details are on our How we quote page.
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Can I switch from a tank to a tankless water heater?
Often, yes. It depends on your gas line size, venting route, and how much hot water you use at once. Electric tankless units usually need a large electrical service, so they don't suit every home. See our tankless water heater page or call (250) 274-0132 to talk it through.
No hot water, or a tank on its last legs? Let's sort it out.
Call or text (250) 274-0132. A photo of the tank's label helps us come ready. Not urgent? Email fontusplumbing@gmail.com.
Based in Summerland, BCMonday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PMEmergency call-outs evenings and weekends when available$125/hr labour or a flat quote after we see the job