Miami-Dade · Broward · Palm Beach
Hot Water Heater Repair & Installation in Miami & Fort Lauderdale
Leaking, lukewarm or rusty water? Many hot water heaters can be repaired. When yours can’t, Cool Air USA installs a new Rheem, Ruud or Navien water heater in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and across South Florida, and pulls the permit. If a repair is possible, your digital estimate shows the repair price and the replacement price side by side before any work starts.
Repair and replacement priced side by side
Tank, tankless and hybrid
Permit on every installation
1-year parts and labor warranty
(877) 895-11551 The visit
What happens when you call about a water heater?
A plumber comes to your home, stops any water loss first, finds the cause and prices the fix before any work starts. A diagnostic usually takes 45 minutes to an hour.
- BookCall, text or book onlineYou get a confirmation text, another 2 hours before, and a tracking link when the plumber is on the way.
- Stop the leakWater loss comes firstIf water is coming out, the plumber shuts it off before anything else.
- EstimateRepair or replace, pricedIf the heater can be repaired, your digital estimate shows the repair price next to the price of a new heater. The choice is yours.
- ReportPhotos of the workA digital report with photos, also in your customer portal.
2 Signs
Is my water heater failing?
The most common hot water heater call we get is a leak. These are the signs worth a call, and what they usually turn out to be.
| What you notice | Usual cause | What we usually do |
|---|---|---|
| Water around the base | A leaking fitting or valve | Repair the fitting or valve, if caught early |
| Leaking tank | The tank has rusted through | Replace the water heater |
| Lukewarm or no hot water | A failed heating element or an electrical fault | Repair test and replace the element |
| Breaker keeps tripping | An electrical fault in the heater | Diagnose don’t keep resetting it |
| Rusty or brown hot water | Corrosion inside the tank | Diagnose check the anode rod · Replace if the tank is rusting |
| Rotten-egg smell from the hot side | A reaction inside the tank | Repair anode rod and a flush |
| Dripping safety (T&P) valve | Too much heat or pressure in the tank | Diagnose find the cause, replace a worn valve |
| Gas heater: pilot won’t stay lit | Pilot or igniter trouble | Repair the pilot or igniter |
3 Repair or replace
Should I repair or replace my water heater?
Water heaters are simply built, and many problems are a part, not the whole heater. A leaking tank is the line: once the tank itself leaks, it's time to replace.
Usually a repair
- Heating elements
- Valves, including the drain valve (with a flush)
- Anode rod
- Gas valve, pilot or igniter
- Leaking fittings, caught before they damage the heater
Usually a replacement
- The tank itself is leaking
- Rust along the seams
- Dents and cosmetic damage: your call, we price the repair and the replacement
How long do they last here? It depends on your water and on maintenance. We’ve seen tanks fail in 4 years and last 40. Without maintenance, many fail in about 4 to 6 years; with a yearly flush, most last well over 10.
Before and after: our water heater installs
Real replacements by Cool Air USA plumbers in South Florida homes.
Before
AfterRusted, leaking tank
Replaced with an 85-gallon Rheem Marathon electric water heater.
Before
AfterOld lowboy beside the AC
Replaced with a Ruud lowboy electric water heater, set in a drain pan.
Before
AfterHeat pump water heater
Replaced with a Rheem electric tank, next to the expansion tank.
4 Which water heater
Tank, tankless or hybrid?
Most homes here have an electric tank. We handle water heater installation for Rheem, Ruud and Navien, and we can special-order any brand and type you want.
Tank about 2.5 hours
The most common water heater in South Florida, usually electric. Lowboy and short models fit condo closets, and non-metallic tanks are available for homes near the coast.
Tankless about 4 hours
A tankless water heater keeps hot water coming when the shower, the laundry and the kitchen run at once. Hard water is its biggest enemy. An optional water filter ahead of it and yearly service help it last longer.
Hybrid heat pump about 4 hours
An electric water heater that uses a heat pump to heat the water, for lower running costs than a standard electric tank.
Gas water heaters: yes, where the gas line and venting are already in place. We don’t install new gas lines.
| Household | Light to regular use | Heavy use | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 people | 30 gallons | 40 to 50 gallons | Condo or 1 bedroom |
| 2 to 3 people | 40 gallons | 40 to 50 gallons | 2 bedrooms, 2 baths |
| 3 to 4 people | 40 gallons | 50 to 75 gallons | 3 bedrooms |
| 5 or more people | 50 gallons | 75+ gallons | 4 bedrooms or more |
Heavy use means a large soaking tub, two showers running at once or laundry most days. A rule of thumb, not a promise: the estimate sizes it to your home. Tankless is sized by how many taps run at once, not by gallons.
5 Install day
What happens on installation day?
- PermitPulled for every installThe work is inspected, so it meets code.
- InstallAbout 2.5 to 4 hoursAbout 2.5 hours for a tank, about 4 for tankless, hybrid or gas.
- To codeDone to codeEvery install is done to code, including an expansion tank when your home needs one.
- TemperatureLeft at the factory settingFor scald safety with kids and seniors in the home.
We haul the old water heater away. We install water heaters we supply, so the warranty is clear. Want a specific brand or model? We special-order it.
6 Before you call
What should I do right now?
It’s leaking
Shut off the water at the main shutoff and turn off the heater’s breaker. Stay clear of the water near the heater.
No hot water
Check the heater’s breaker and reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call us.
Valve dripping
A dripping safety valve isn’t normal. Call a plumber to find out why.
Smell gas?
Turn the gas off at the source, leave the house and call 911.
Don’t know where your main shutoff is? Ask the plumber on your next visit to show you. Turn it slowly, over about 10 seconds.
7 Cost & upkeep
What does it cost, and what's covered?
| Homes | Businesses (stores, offices) | |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic visit | $79, waived with any repair | $99, plus the repair |
| 7 pm to 7 am, every day | + $100 emergency fee | + $100 emergency fee |
| Repair or new heater | Flat rate, in a digital estimate before work starts | Flat rate, in a digital estimate before work starts |
| Our warranty | 1 year parts and labor | 1 year parts and labor |
| Manufacturer warranty | Tank models: 6 to 10 years on the tank and 1 to 10 years on parts, depending on the brand. Tankless: the manufacturer’s warranty for that model. Your estimate shows the exact terms. | |
Keep it running
- Flush a tank once a year to clear the sediment
- Check the anode rod every 5 years
- Service a tankless unit once a year
Pay over time
Financing through Synchrony, with approved credit. See financing.
Reviews
What customers say
Rated 4.9 across 9,954 reviews on 8 sites. The newest about water heaters and water-source heat pumps.
Service areas
Hot water heater repair near you
We serve Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties from our office in Lauderhill.
- Miami
- Fort Lauderdale
- Aventura
- Sunrise
- Doral
- Hollywood
- Pembroke Pines
- Miramar
- Plantation
- West Palm Beach
- Boca Raton
- Coral Springs
- Hialeah
All areas: Miami-Dade County · Broward County · Palm Beach County
FAQ
Water heater questions
How long does a water heater last in South Florida?
It depends on your water and on maintenance. Without maintenance, many tanks fail in about 4 to 6 years; with a yearly flush, most last well over 10. A tankless unit with a water filter and yearly service lasts 8 to 10 years or more.
Tank or tankless: which water heater should I get?
A tank suits most homes and costs less to install. Tankless keeps hot water coming when several taps run at once, which helps larger families. If the flow is more than the unit is sized for, the water won't get hot enough, so we size it to your home.
What size water heater do I need?
As a rule of thumb: 30 gallons for 1 to 2 people, 40 for 2 to 4 people and 50 for 5 or more. With heavy use (a large tub, two showers at once, laundry most days), go up to 40 to 75 gallons or more. The estimate sizes it to your home.
Do you install gas water heaters?
Yes, where the gas line and venting are already in place. We don't install new gas lines.
Is a dripping T&P valve on a water heater normal?
No. The temperature and pressure relief valve opens when the tank gets too hot or the pressure gets too high. A drip means it opened. Call a plumber to find out why.
Will you install a water heater I bought myself?
No. We install water heaters we supply, and we can special-order any brand and type you want.
How do I find my water heater's age?
Look for the manufacturer's label on the side of the tank. It shows the model, the serial number and the manufacture date. Not sure? Text us a photo of the label.
Can one call cover both a plumbing problem and the AC?
Yes. We can send a plumber and an AC technician together. Our licensed plumbing division works alongside our HVAC crews out of the same office, so a water heater or a drain goes through the same phone number as an AC repair. Calls are handled in the order they are received, and most are seen the same day. Water heater replacements follow the same permitted, flat-rate process as a new AC.
More questions? See our complete HVAC & plumbing FAQ, or call or text (877) 895-1155, a real person answers 24/7.
Water heater trouble?
Call or text 24/7. Diagnostic $79 for homes, waived with any repair.