Water Heater Replacement in Louisville, KY: Gas or Electric, and Why Like for Like Usually Wins
Replacing a water heater in Louisville, KY: gas vs electric tanks, why switching fuel is a bigger job, sizing, the Kentucky permit and what our visit includes.
When a water heater gives out, the first question most people ask is how soon they can have hot water again. The second question, and the one that shapes the whole job, is what goes back in its place. For most tank replacements, the most direct answer is the same kind of heater the house already has, gas or electric, sized for how the household uses hot water today.
This guide covers how to read the heater you have now, what changes between gas and electric, why switching fuel is a bigger job than it looks, and what Kentucky requires before a new water heater goes in. Durbin Plumbing repairs and replaces tank water heaters, gas and electric, across Louisville and Jefferson County.
Start with the heater you have now
Rheem, one of the brands we service, puts it simply in its guide to choosing your next water heater: know the age of the heater, what fuel it uses and how it has been performing.
- Fuel. A gas heater is connected to a gas line and a vent. An electric heater is hardwired to 240 volt electrical service.
- Age. Rheem says tank heaters typically last 8 to 12 years. Its repair or replace signs, which we walk through in our own guide, include a leak from the base of the tank, rusty hot water and rumbling from the tank.
- Performance. If you run out of hot water more often than you used to, Rheem notes it may be time for a new heater, and that larger households or homes with a soaker tub may be better served by a different heater than the one they have.
Gas or electric: what actually differs
Rheem lays out the basic trade. Gas, as a fuel, costs less than electricity, but electric units are more efficient. Electric models produce no emissions. Rheem also points out that there are high efficiency ENERGY STAR certified models that can lower energy costs and may qualify for incentives from your utility company.
For a homeowner, the bigger difference is the connections behind the heater:
- A gas water heater needs a gas line and venting.
- An electric water heater needs 240 volt hardwired electrical service.
When the new heater uses the same fuel as the old one, those connections are already in place. That is a large part of why a like-for-like replacement is usually the most direct job.
Why switching fuel is a bigger project
Rheem's advice is direct: fuel switching is not recommended, and if you want a different fuel type, talk with your plumber first. Moving from electric to gas means a gas line and venting the house may not have. Moving from gas to electric means 240 volt hardwired service at the heater location. Rheem notes that switching may require additional plumber or electrician work at the time of installation.
That does not mean switching is never the right call. It means the decision belongs in the quote, not in the store aisle. When Doug Durbin looks at your heater, ask him what a switch would involve in your house so you can weigh it against staying with what you have.
Size the new tank for the busiest hour
Bigger is not automatically better, and the same size as last time is not automatically right either. A household that has grown, or a new soaker tub, can outrun a tank that used to be enough. Our water heater repair and replacement page explains the first-hour rating printed on the EnergyGuide label, which is the number that tells you how much hot water a tank can deliver in its busiest hour. Doug also looks at the space where the heater sits, and the size of the new heater is part of his quote.
Kentucky requires a permit for a replacement
In Kentucky a new water heater is not just a swap. The state plumbing rule, 815 KAR 20:050, says a plumbing permit is required for a new water heater installation or a water heater that is to be replaced. The same rule says that permit is issued only to a licensed master plumber, or to a homeowner who occupies the home and meets strict conditions: applying before the work starts, filing an affidavit, and personally performing all of the work.
Doug Durbin holds journeyman and master plumbing licenses. We pull the state permit for your water heater replacement, and the state inspector schedules the inspection. If you are comparing quotes, ask each plumber whether the permit and inspection are included, because that is part of the job in Kentucky.
What a replacement visit with us looks like
Customers usually ask two things: what it will cost and when we can get there. On price, Doug usually goes on site to give you an accurate quote. The number depends on gas or electric, the size of the tank, how easy the heater is to reach and the state permit and inspection, so it comes after he sees the heater rather than before.
On timing, instead of waiting all day for the plumber, you get a two-hour arrival window, and we can call to tell you we are on the way if you need to leave work. During the day we can rework our schedule to take care of an urgent problem. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and we usually answer the phone live. You can always reach Tina or Doug, the owners.
If water is already on the floor, shut off the water to the heater and call us. Rheem lists a leak from the base of the tank as a sign to replace the heater, not repair it.
Make the new heater last
Sediment settles at the bottom of a tank as minerals separate out of the water. Rheem recommends flushing a tank water heater once a year for most homes, or every six months if you have hard water. A yearly flush is one of the simplest ways to protect the money you just spent.
Older Louisville homes
Older houses are a big part of the work here. Doug looks at the space where the heater sits and how easy it is to reach, because that is part of the job and part of the quote. Our guide to plumbing in older Louisville homes covers more of what we run into.
Where we work
Our office is in 40205, and we do a lot of work close to this area, in neighborhoods like the Highlands, Crescent Hill and St. Matthews. We are happy to go to any area in Jefferson County, and to Taylorsville.
If your water heater is leaking, making noise or running out of hot water too soon, call (502) 266-9408 or send us a service request. Doug will look at the heater, tell you whether repair or replacement makes sense, and give you an accurate quote for the right heater for your home.
“Called before they came, assessed the situation, went and got parts and all was done in about an hour. He was very polite and cleaned up after himself.”
Sherilyn LawsonDurbin Plumbing customer
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Tell us what is going on
Send the form during business hours and we usually call you right back. After hours or on a weekend, we call or text you back. If you would rather talk now, call (502) 266-9408, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
- We call you backTina or Doug, the owners, usually pick up live.
- You get a two-hour windowInstead of waiting all day for the plumber.
- We can call when we are on the wayIf you need to leave work to meet us.
- Doug quotes on siteHe sees the job first, then gives you an accurate quote.