Water Heater Replacement in Cave Creek, AZ

Signs it is time to replace

• Water leaking from the tank body or bottom seam
• Discolored hot water or a metallic taste
• Crackling or rumbling while the heater runs
• Hot water that runs out faster than it used to
• Corroded fittings or a weeping relief valve
• A heater well past a decade old

Cave Creek conditions that affect the job

The Town of Cave Creek Utilities Department treats Colorado River water from the Central Arizona Project at its own Cave Creek Water Treatment Plant, piped about 12 miles from the canal, and the town says no groundwater wells currently supply the Cave Creek system. The Utilities Department also runs the Desert Hills Water System in unincorporated areas, which uses groundwater wells supplemented with treated CAP water. The water report does not give a hardness figure, but Colorado River and desert groundwater both carry minerals, so annual flushing still makes sense.

The town's homes are mostly from the 1990s on, with a median build year around 1998 and about 16 percent built before 1980. Many sit on larger lots, where the heater may be in a garage some distance from the main bath, so long hot water waits can be an issue and are worth mentioning if you are thinking about recirculation or a different location.

Southwest Gas supplies natural gas, according to the town's residential services page. If you smell gas, leave the house first, then call 911 and Southwest Gas at 877-860-6020 from outside.

What changes the price

• Size, fuel and efficiency of the new unit
• A building permit through the Building Department, if your scope needs one
• Vent, gas connector or wiring updates
• Recirculation pumps or long pipe runs on a larger property
• Expansion tank, pan and relief line work
• Access and disposal of the old tank

When you call

You will be connected with an independent plumber who covers Cave Creek. Give them the size and fuel from the label, where the heater is and whether it is leaking. For a water emergency outside business hours, the town's after-hours utility line is 602-667-4574. Ask each plumber to list the model, permit handling, any corrections and haul-away in writing so quotes line up, and say if you would like a price on recirculation as well.