Fast Water Heater Company services all of the East Bay. If you’ve woken up to the surprise of a leaking water heater or a cold shower, we guarantee same-day service, if you call before noon. Our hours are 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday & Sunday.
We’re homeowners too and know emergencies don’t conveniently occur just during the week; we’re open seven days a week and don’t charge extra for weekend service calls.
We’re the water heater experts, and can repair, replace or install electric or gas water heaters, standard tank or tankless models and even install hybrid heat pump systems in certain situations. If you’re just interested in water heater codes or water heater rebates, we’ve got you covered here too.
All our certified technicians are background-checked and have years of water heater experience before they ever step foot into your East Bay home.
Try to find your water heater model number and serial number before you call so we can identify the age, warranty and any other pertinent information about your existing unit. (This info can be found on a large sticker usually on the side of the water storage tank.)
These days, most communities in the East Bay will require a permit for a water heater installation (this will not delay any work, just will schedule a safety inspection at a later date).
Every few years, water heater codes for the East Bay change to adopt new installation and safety measures. While intended to increase your overall home safety, these code requirements can result in extra installation charges.
Currently, most towns in the East Bay require a permit for a water heater installation. The good news is we can pull the permit for you, and it will not slow down any work on our end.
We try to keep this information as up-to-date as possible, but your East Bay installer will be able to answer any specific question you may have.
The following are safety regulations that we have found are typically enforced in towns around the East Bay. We go to great lengths to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, but please consult your installer, whose knowledge will be in-depth and up-to-date.
Approved Location – In the East Bay, bedrooms and bathrooms cannot be used for water heater storage areas. Closets may be used if that is their only purpose. This regulation is currently enforced in East Bay because if a gas water heater is incorrectly vented, its deadly carbon monoxide (CO) emissions could enter your home.
Earthquake Straps – The California Plumbing Code requires the use of earthquake straps to secure your water heater. The straps must be located on the top-third of the tank as well as the bottom-third. Most communities in the East Bay enforce this code for your safety.
Venting – Most water heaters in the East Bay are gas-powered, emitting small amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) as they operate. This requires correct venting of the water heater. The size of the vent is determined by the size of the water heater. If the vent material gets hot, it will need sufficient clearance to avoid touching combustible or flammable materials. This is actively enforced in most of San Francisco’s East Bay.
Pans and Drains – Water heaters situated on a built-in platform or in an interior location could leak and cause water damage. A requirement of the CA Plumbing Code requires that a pan be placed under the water heater with an attached drain-line running to the exterior.
Pressure and Temperature Relief Drain (“P&T Drain”) to the Exterior – Although your P&T Drain is required to be run to the exterior to prevent scalding while the pressure and temperature relief is discharging, there are some instances where piping to the exterior is not possible. Most inspectors in the East Bay enforce this requirement, and also allow a Watts 210 valve to be used as a substitute.
Dedicated Water Shutoff – With a dedicated water shutoff you can turn off the water to the water heater while it is being serviced and still have water in the rest of the house.
Pipe Insulation – Pipes must be insulated if they are exposed in unconditioned space.
Bonding – The CA Electric Code requires water and gas pipes to be grounded. To successfully ground all the pipes, they must be bonded with 6 AWG wire and clamps. As plumbing and electrical wiring are often adjacent to, or near, each other, it is possible for your pipes to be energized if your wires begin to deteriorate, putting you in a dangerous situation. Inspectors are currently requiring this.
With more than two decades experience, we have installed countless water heaters in single-family homes, condos, apartments, mobile homes and townhouses in the East Bay area, including Oakland, Danville, and more. All our skilled-technicians are background-checked, thoroughly experienced and trained to safely and quickly install your new water heater.
Whether you are stepping up to a tankless water heater, have questions about retrofitting gas lines or anything else water heater-related, our skilled technicians can answer any of your questions and, generally, get your hot water heater installed the same day you call us.
Most importantly, our technicians are local to the East Bay, which means they are up-to-date on all local plumbing codes, safety regulations and regional installation trends.
We install Rheem water heaters, and are an official Rheem service provider for the East Bay.
We look forward to helping you. Please keep in mind, while we can quote you a starting price over the phone, we are not able to give a final price until a technician is at your home and can see your unique setup. If you’re happy with the final price, your technician will get to work immediately. But due to this uncertainty, our appointments are no cost and no obligation.
Give us a call or fill out the form below to receive more information about a water heater installation in the East Bay.
Water heaters are constantly operating, heating and storing hot water for your use. They’re built to last, but if yours starts leaking or you’re out of hot water, you may need to have your water heater repaired.
Typically, a water heater comes with a warranty anywhere from 5-15 years on parts. For this reason, if you start experiencing issues, try to find your water heater model & serial number to determine if it is still under warranty. Our service technicians are local to the East Bay and are familiar with most regional heater applications, brands and models.
It’s important to note, if your water heater is more than 10 years old, it’s probably nearing its last legs. Considering the cost of labor, rather than repairing it, a more prudent financial choice might be to just replace the unit.
In the East Bay, common repairs and maintenance for residential water heaters include:
