Berkeley- Fast Water Heater Company for Excellent Service

Fast Water Heater Company serves Berkeley and surrounding areas. We provide same day installation for all water heaters – Solar, Tank or Tankless. Our local number in Berkeley and surrounding areas is 510-666-6901  

Since we service a large variety of water heater brands, it helps us if you can have the Serial number and Model of your water heater ready when you call.

You Can Reach Us During Normal Business Hours:
7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Are you in the market for a new water heater? Contact us anytime:

—Or locally at: 510-666-6901

— Our website at:www.fastwaterheater.com/contact.asp

The city of Berkeley at present requires a replacement permit for new water heaters. You can obtain the permit yourself, or Fast Water Heater Company will handle acquiring it. No matter who applies for the permit, your water heater will be connected the same day. When you have the permit (if we handle it, we will send to you) please make arrangements for an inspector to come and inspect the installation.

Permit information for Berkeley can be found at: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/subunithome.aspx?serviceID1=32700

Code Enforcement in Berkeley

When installing your water heater, Fast Water Heater Company is required by law to perform a site survey and let you know whether your water heater is compliant with the California Plumbing Code.

There are requirements in The California Plumbing Code when replacing a hot water heater. Enforcement varies between cities, and often between inspectors. Items ‘required’ by the California Plumbing Code are not ‘enforced’ by some inspectors or local jurisdictions. As licensed contractors, we are required to inform you of the requirements of the state of California. We also try to clarify the items that are “enforced” in your jurisdiction, allowing you to make informed decisions what work you will have completed.
 
Presently, the following list of items appears to be strictly enforced. NOTE: We make every effort to keep our information current. However, your installer always has the most current information.

Approved Location – Gas water heater vents release miniscule amounts of CO (Carbon Monoxide) into the air. To prevent accidents and avoid human contact with the CO, regulations are in place stating that water heaters cannot be located in closets (unless used exclusively for water heater), bathrooms or bedrooms. Berkeley enforces this regulation.

Earthquake Straps – As California is in an earthquake zone some regulations are required for everyone’s safety. Water heaters must have certified earthquake straps – one on the top third of the tank and one on the bottom third of the tank. Most inspectors in Berkeley enforce this regulation.

Venting – Asmost water heaters in Berkeley are gas combustion they generate carbon monoxide as part of the combustion process and must be properly vented. The vent must be adequately sized for the size of the water heater. Correct clearance from flammable or combustible surfaces must be allowed if the vent material tends to get hot. Berkeley currently enforces this requirement.

Pans and Drains – Water heaters located in an interior location or on a built-in platform could leak and cause water damage. Berkeley usually requires that a pan be placed under the water heater with a drain line running to the exterior. This is a requirement of the CA plumbing code. It is our experience that Berkeley requires the drain to run to the exterior.

Pressure and Temperature Relief Drain (“P&T Drain”) to the Exterior – To prevent accidental scalding while the P&T drain is discharging, the CA Code requires your P&T relief drain to be run to the outside. Berkeley enforces this at present.

Dedicated Water Shutoff – Water heaters with a dedicated shutoff are required by CA Plumbing Code. The shutoff allows water to the water heater to be turned off for servicing, while the water to the rest of the house is still available. Berkeley actively enforces this code item.

Pipe Insulation – Pipes exposed to unconditioned space are required to be insulated in Berkeley

Bonding – Water and gas pipes must be grounded. By bonding your pipes with 6 awg wire and clamps you can effectively ground all the pipes. Since plumbing is often built near your electrical wiring, it is possible your pipes could be energized if the wires were to deteriorate. Inspectors in Berkeley currently enforce this requirement.

Sediment Traps – A sediment trap, located on the gas line that runs to your water heater, catches moisture and debris in the gas line and prevents it from entering the combustion chamber of the water heater. Currently, Berkeley does actively enforce this.

Items Not Currently Being Enforced by Berkeley

The California State code requires the following items to be enforced, but presently, they are not being actively enforced by Berkeley. There can be times, when we do work in your home; the inspector may say it was unnecessary. Please remember, we attempt to keep the list updated, however we would advise you to talk to your technician as he has the most up-to-date information. Although the following items are required by code, our experience has shown they are not always being enforced by the inspectors in Berkeley:

Pressure Regulating Valves – Water pressure greater than 80 PSI requires the installation of a pressure regulating valve. This is required by the CA Plumbing Code to reduce water pressure and protect your fixtures, appliances and water heater from damage. If we find high water pressure during our testing, we will notify you so you can evaluate your options. We have found that Berkeley inspectors do not currently test for this and do not enforce the requirement.

Grease Pack Gas Valve Replacement – If we find a grease pack valve while inspecting your water heater, we will recommend its replacement. Grease pack valves are known to fail and are no longer approved by the California Plumbing Code. Berkeley is not enforcing this item presently.