Water heater installation
What this service covers
A water heater swap looks simple and often is not. California requires seismic strapping, a properly sized temperature-and-pressure discharge line, a drain pan with an outlet where the heater sits above finished space, and thermal expansion control where a pressure regulator is present. We install to those standards every time, not just when an inspector is coming.
We size the unit to the household rather than to whatever is currently there. A family of five taking back-to-back showers needs different recovery than a two-person home, and getting first-hour rating right matters more than tank gallons alone.
What is included
- Correct sizing for your household's hot water demand
- Gas or electric tank installation, permitted where required
- New water flex connectors, gas flex and shut-off valve
- Seismic strapping to California standards
- Drain pan and routed pan drain
- Thermal expansion tank where the system requires one
- T&P relief discharge routed to code
- Old unit disconnected, drained and hauled away
Our process
How we handle water heater installation
Confirm the fit
We check gas line size, venting, clearances and capacity needs, then quote a flat installed price over the phone or on site.
Protect the space
Drop cloths and floor protection go down before the old heater is drained and removed.
Install to code
New heater set, connected, strapped, pan drained, expansion controlled and relief line routed properly.
Test and document
Leak check, temperature verification, photos of the finished install and a one-year workmanship warranty.
Common questions
Water Heater Installation FAQs
Q. How long does installation take?
A straightforward tank-for-tank replacement is typically two to three hours including haul-away. Adding code upgrades or relocating the unit takes longer and is quoted separately.
Q. What size water heater do I need?
For most North County homes a 40-gallon unit covers one to three people and a 50-gallon covers four to five. We look at simultaneous fixture use rather than just headcount.
Q. Do you pull permits?
Yes where the jurisdiction requires one. We install to code regardless so the work stands up to inspection and to your home insurance.
Q. Should I switch to tankless instead?
Sometimes. Tankless needs adequate gas supply and new venting, so the up-front cost is higher. We price both and explain the trade-off honestly rather than pushing the bigger ticket.
Areas we serve
Where we handle water heater installation
We work out of San Marcos and cover North County San Diego from there. Pick your city for the local details that change how this job goes.
Business information
Swift Flow Plumbing — licensed plumbing in North County San Diego
Based in
San Marcos, CA. We are a mobile, service-area company — our crews come to you, so there is no public storefront to visit.
License
CSLB #1136062 — licensed and insured California plumbing contractor, locally operated out of San Marcos.