Santa Clara- Fast Water Heater Company for Unmatched Service

Fast Water Heater Company serves Santa Clara and area. Whether you have a Solar, Tank or Tankless water heater we will set it up the same day. Our local number is 408-641-5537  

We service all major water heater brands. It will save you time if you have the model and serial number and model on hand 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

Contact Fast Water Heater Company today if you are having problems with your water heater:

—Or locally at: 408-641-5537

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

Santa Clara requires a permit when replacing a new water heater. If you like, we can handle obtaining the permit for you and still provide same day service. If you prefer to obtain the permit on your own, that is also an option. We ensure your water heater is connected the same day regardless of who gets the permit. Once you have the permit, make arrangements for an inspector to come and evaluate the installation.

Information for Santa Clara permitting is found at: http://santaclaraca.gov/index.aspx?page=1012

Code Enforcement in Santa Clara

While installing your water heater,a site survey is required at the same time. We will inform you where your water heater meets requirements and where it does not comply with the California Plumbing Code.

We find that enforcement of items required by the California Plumbing Code differs from city-to-city, and often from inspector-to-inspector. As licensed contractors, we must inform you of the requirements of the state of California and make clear which items are enforced in your jurisdiction. This will allow you to make decisions based on accurate information. The following list of requirements is usually strictly enforced. We try to keep our information up-to-date; however your installer will have the most recent information.

Approved Location – To prevent accidents and avoid contact with CO (Carbon Monoxide), emitted in small amounts from gas heater vents, bathrooms and bedrooms cannot be used as water heater storage areas. Closets may be utilized if that is its only purpose. This regulation is currently enforced in Santa Clara.

Earthquake Straps – Water heaters are required to have earthquake straps on the top and bottom thirds of the tank in accordance with the CA Plumbing Code. The city of Santa Clara enforces this requirement for your safety.
 
Venting – Asgas combustion water heaters produce carbon monoxide (CO) they require proper venting. The water heater size establishes the size of the vent. The clearance between combustible or flammable areas and the vent must be adequate enough to prevent a fire if the vent material gets hot. This requirement is enforced by Santa Clara.
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Pans and Drains – The CA Plumbing Code requires a pan to be placed under your water heater if it is located in an interior location or on a built in platform. As potential damage could happen from leakage, a drain line must be attached to the pan and run to the exterior. In most cases the drain to the exterior is required by Santa Clara.

Pressure and Temperature Relief Drain (“P&T Drain”) to the Exterior – To avoid accidental scalding while the P&T discharges, the CA Plumbing Code requires the P&T drain be run to the exterior. This requirement is enforced by Santa Clara. Furthermore, Santa Clara also requires a 6” nipple on the P&T Drain.

Dedicated Water Shutoff – A dedicated water shutoff ensures you will always have water available, even if your hot water tank is being serviced. The water directly to the tank can be turned off, leaving the rest of the house with running water. This is enforced by Santa Clara.

Pipe Insulation – Pipes must be insulated if they are exposed to unconditioned space. This is enforced in Santa Clara.

Bonding – The CA Electric Code requires water and gas pipes to be grounded. You can successfully ground your pipes by bonding with 6 awg wire and clamps. Often plumbing and electrical wiring are located near each other. If your wires begin to degrade it is possible that your pipes will become energized, putting you in a dangerous situation. Currently, inspectors in Santa Clara require this.

Items Not Currently Being Enforced by Santa Clara

 We try to keep our list of requirements updated, however we advise you to talk to your technician. He will have the most recent information. As we are following the requirements of the CA Plumbing Code, we may occasionally perform work in your home that the inspector believes is unnecessary. The following items are required by code, but often are not being enforced:

 Pressure Regulating Valves – When replacing the water heater, we test water pressure at the same time. The CA Plumbing code requires a pressure regulator to be installed if your water pressure is over 80 PSI. High water pressure can damage your water fixtures, appliances and water heater. We inform you if you have high water pressure so you can evaluate your options. Santa Clara inspectors do not currently test for this and do not enforce the Code in this area.

Grease Pack Gas Valve Replacement – Grease pack valves are not approved by the CA Plumbing Code as they are known to fail often. We recommend replacing a grease pack valve if we find one while inspecting your water heater. Santa Clara is not enforcing this requirement.

Expansion Tanks - Expansion tanks for ‘closed systems’ have been required by the CA Plumbing Code since 2008.  A closed system has a backflow preventer between your house and the water main.  As your water heats, it expands by about 2% and causes pressure build-up. A rapid drop in pressure occurs when a faucet is turned on, causing wear on plumbing, fixtures and the water heater. We recommend the use of expansion tanks for closed systems. We have removed many tanks in the Santa Clara area that could have lasted another 5 to 6 years. Santa Clara is not presently enforcing this code.