Hayward - Fast Water Heater Company for the Finest Service

Fast Water Heater Company serves Hayward and area.  Whether your water heater is Solar, Tank or Tankless, we provide installation the same day. Our local number is 510-397-8498  

As we service all the major water heater brands, it helps us if you have the model and serial number of your water heater handy when you call.

We are Open Seven Days a week to Serve You
7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Having problems with your water heater? Need a new water heater? Contact us today:

—Or locally at: 510-397-8498

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

The city of Hayward requires a replacement permit for new water heaters. Fast Water Heater Company will handle acquiring the permit, or you may obtain it on your own. No matter who gets the permit, we ensure your water heater is connected the same day. Once you have the permit (which we will send to you if we acquire it) you must make arrangements for an inspector to come to inspect the installation.

Permit information for Hayward can be found at: http://www.hayward-ca.gov/municipal

Code Enforcement in Hayward

When installing your water heater, we are legally obliged to perform a site survey and to inform you if your water heater is, or is not, compliant with the California Plumbing Code.

There are requirements for all items in the California Plumbing Code. We find that enforcement varies between cities and inspectors. Many items ‘required’ by the California Plumbing Code are sometimes not ‘enforced’ by inspectors or local jurisdictions. Being licensed contractors, we inform you of the requirements of the state of California and try to clarify which items are enforced in your jurisdiction, allowing you to make informed decisions about the work being done. 

The following list appears to be firmly enforced. NOTE: We make every effort to keep our information up-to-date. However, your installer always has the most current information.

Approved Location – Most types of water heaters cannot be located in bedrooms, bathrooms, or closets (unless the closet is used solely for the water heater). This prevents accidents and avoids human contact with the small amounts of CO (Carbon Monoxide) that spill from gas heater vents. Hayward currently enforces this.

Earthquake Straps – California is an earthquake zone and 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. Inspectors in Hayward enforce this regulation.
 
Venting – Most water heaters in Hayward are gas combustion which generate carbon monoxide (CO) as part of the combustion process. These water heaters must be vented properly and the vent must be adequately sized for the water heater. Combustible/ flammable surfaces must have proper clearance if the vent material gets hot. Hayward currently enforces this requirement.

Pans and Drains – A water heater positioned in an interior location or on a built-in platform could cause damage from leakage. The CA Plumbing Code requires a pan under the water heater with a drain line to the exterior. Hayward enforces this requirement. However, CPVC, which is approved material for all kinds of drain lines, is not allowed to be used by the city of Hayward.
 
Pressure and Temperature Relief Drain (“P&T Drain”) – The California Plumbing Code requires your P&T drain be run to the exterior to prevent accidental scalding while the pressure and temperature relief is discharging.  Hayward currently enforces this. Hayward will sometimes allow the use of a Watts 210 valve if piping to the exterior is not possible. Hayward also may allow the P&T Drain to run into a water heater pan if they cannot be run separately. Although CPVC is approved material for all types of drain lines (and less expensive than copper), Hayward will not allow any CPVC use.

Dedicated Water Shutoff – A dedicated water shutoff is required for water heaters.  This allows water to the water heater to be shut off for servicing, while water to the rest of the house is still available. Hayward enforces this code item.

Pipe Insulation – Pipes located in space that is unconditioned must be insulated in Hayward.

Items Not Currently Being Enforced by Hayward

There may be times, if we carry out certain work at your home, the inspector may feel it was unnecessary.  We attempt to keep the list updated, however we advise you to talk to your technician as he will have the most up-to-date information. Although the following items are required by code, based on our experience, they are not being enforced:

Pressure Regulating Valves – If your water pressure is over 80 PSI, the CA Plumbing Code requires the installation of a pressure regulator valve to reduce water pressure and prevent damage to your plumbing system. High water pressure can sometimes damage your fixtures, appliances, and water heater.  If we find high water pressure during our testing, we will notify you so you can evaluate your options. We have found that Hayward inspectors do not currently test for this nor enforce it.

Grease Pack Gas Valve Replacement – During the inspection of your water heater, we will be inspecting the dedicated gas valve to the tank.  If we find that it is a grease pack valve we will recommend replacement. Grease pack gas valves are acknowledged to have a high failure rate and are not approved for use by the CA Plumbing Code. We must inform you of this even though Hayward is not enforcing it at this time.

Expansion Tanks - If you have a ‘closed system’ (this is a plumbing system with a backflow preventer between the water main and your house) you are also required to have an expansion tank. Heated water expands about 2% which could trigger pressure build-up in the system. When a faucet is turned on, there is a rapid drop in pressure, causing extra wear on your fixtures, plumbing and water heater, often leading to early failure of your water heater. We strongly recommend expansion tanks to protect your system. A large number of water tanks must be replaced at half their useful life due to this problem.