Mamba Drainage Services
Hot Water Tank Installation Vancouver
Cold shower at 6 AM. Water pooling around the tank in the basement. A pilot light that will not stay lit. Those are three different faults and only one of them needs a new tank.
Gas, electric, tankless and hybrid water heater installation, replacement and repair across Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, New Westminster, Surrey and Delta. Certified gas fitter in house, permit pulled under our own licence.
Signs your tank is on the way out
Any one of these is worth a look. Two together and you are on borrowed time.
- A puddle at the base of the tank, even a quarter cup of it
- Rusty or discoloured hot water at the tap when the cold runs clear
- Popping, rumbling or kettling noises when the burner fires
- Hot water that runs out sooner than it used to for the same shower
- A relief valve that drips and will not stop
- A pilot light that lights and then dies again
- Rust blooming at the supply or drain connections
- A manufacture date on the rating plate that reads past twelve years old
When a hot water tank goes, you have a window, not a season
A gas hot water tank in a Vancouver home lasts 10 to 13 years. An electric tank lasts 8 to 12. After that the anode rod is gone, the bottom of the tank is rusting from the inside out, and the sediment layer sitting on the burner is quietly eating the efficiency you paid for.
The first sign of failure is usually a slow weep from the bottom seam or a relief valve that has started to drip. The second sign is a basement floor full of water. Hot water lines feed under pressure, so a complete rupture dumps 40 to 60 gallons and then keeps pulling from the main until somebody closes the supply valve. Tanks go catastrophically about a fifth of the time. The other four fifths leak slowly enough that you get to plan the replacement instead of reacting to it.
What we install. Standard 40 and 50 gallon gas tanks from John Wood and Bradford White, electric tanks, hybrid heat pump units, and tankless conversions where the gas service actually supports one. The tank on the truck is not the deciding factor. The gas line, the venting and the room are.
What every install includes. Full removal and disposal of the old unit, new shut off valves on the supply lines, a new T and P relief valve, new earthquake straps as BC code requires, a pan and drain line if the space has none, the gas connection made by a certified gas fitter, the City of Vancouver permit pulled, and the final inspection booked. Code compliant, insured, warranted, documented.
24/7 emergency dispatch
Tank leaking right now?
Close the cold supply valve at the top of the tank. Shut the gas, or the breaker on an electric unit. Then call us. Ryan picks up and you get a real arrival window on the call.
Tank or tankless, the Vancouver version of that argument
Tankless earns its keep when
- You already have a 3/4 inch or larger gas service at the house
- Three or more people are taking morning showers off the same unit
- The mechanical room is tight and the wall space is worth more than the floor space
- You want hot water that does not run out partway through
- You are staying in the house long enough to get the up front premium back
A conventional tank is the better buy when
- The house is on a 1/2 inch gas service that would need an expensive upsize
- Hot water demand is moderate, one to three people
- The up front number matters more than the operating cost
- You are not staying long enough to amortise the tankless premium
- The venting route to an exterior wall is awkward or expensive
How a tank swap actually runs
What Vancouver customers say
Ryan was great! My landlord called him to fix my blocked kitchen sink. He showed up the same day (on a Sunday) and fixed the problem. He even cleaned the sink and dried up all the water that had leaked before he got there. And he was very careful coming in and out of the house so my cat wouldn’t get out. I’d definitely recommend him.
Ryan is INCREDIBLE. He has been responding to all of us (four houses and families!) affected by a sewage back up. This is all on Boxing Day and beyond, in terrible weather full of ice, cold and rain. He is so knowledgeable, and knew what was needed right away. Just the top of his field I am sure. As well as that, he is incredibly calm, respectful, kind and fair. I am truly amazed by this person's capacity and competence in combination with his noble, calm presence in the face of a real mess. Thank you Ryan, so very much!
I had very positive experience with Mamba Services, Ryan was amazing to work with and took care of my drain issues in no time. He arrived on time, was very professional and efficient in carrying out the work. What impressed me was how honest he was in recommending needed repair. He was very patient in explaining the different options. I will certainly call them for future projects.
Had an excellent experience. Ryan was fantastic, it was an after hours call late in the evening and he showed up exactly in the time frame he gave. Took care of the kitchen sink issue within minutes all systems were running like new. Pricing was extremely reasonable, Ryan was patient and explained everything to me while fixing my problem. I would highly recommend this company for any plumbing work.
Ryan was efficient, experienced, and knowledgeable. He was able to squeeze me into his schedule with short notice and wasted no time with my appointment. He arrived on site inspected the issue, and was quickly at work with resolving the problem. I am very pleased with his service and honesty. He provided recommendations that will help assist me in future occurrences.
Hot water tank FAQ, Vancouver
Under eight years old with one failed component, a thermocouple, a dip tube, an element or a T and P valve, repair is the right call. Over ten years old with more than one thing going wrong, or any leak from the tank body itself, replace it. The diagnostic visit gives you that answer in writing, not as an opinion.
Tanks: John Wood Power-Fit, Bradford White Defender, AO Smith Signature. Tankless: Navien NPE-A2, Rinnai RU199. Heat pump: Rheem ProTerra, AO Smith HPTU. We stock the common sizes and we will install a unit you have bought yourself if it meets code.
Yes. BC requires a certified gas fitter for any gas appliance connection and we have one on staff. Nothing gets subbed to a third party, which means one crew, one warranty and one person to call if something is not right.
For three or more people, an existing 3/4 inch gas service and a long ownership horizon, yes. For one or two people on a 1/2 inch line that would need upsizing, usually not. The gas work can outweigh the savings. We put the two side by side before you decide.
Yes. BC Hydro runs rebates on qualifying heat pump water heater installs. We fill in the rebate paperwork as part of the job at no extra charge, and we tell you before the install whether the model you are considering qualifies.
The manufacturer covers the tank itself, typically 6 to 10 years depending on brand and model. Mamba covers workmanship for 2 years, parts and labour, on the install. Both documents get emailed to you when the job closes.
Yes, and we pull it under our own plumbing licence. The City inspector signs off the final. That paperwork lives in your file and it matters at resale, because a buyer’s inspector will ask.
Close the cold water supply valve at the top of the tank. Shut off the gas at the appliance valve, or the breaker if it is electric. Call us. Open a hot tap to drop the pressure if water is actively pouring. Do not try to drain the tank yourself unless we walk you through it on the phone.
24/7 EMERGENCY DISPATCH
Water where it should not be?
Ryan picks up. Live dispatch, and you get a real arrival window on the call.