Water Heaters
Water Heater Installation in Greer, SC: Sizing, Venting and the City Permit
A tank that leaks from the body or keeps failing is past repair, and the next question is what goes in its place. Greer SC Plumbing Experts walks through the choices, from fuel and size to the permit, so the new heater is the right one the first time.
Repair or replace? Four signs it is time for a new tank
Most replacement calls begin with a failure, but a few signs show up first. Any one of them justifies a conversation, and two together usually settle it.
- Water at the base of the tank that comes from the tank body, not a fitting or a valve
- Rusty or discolored hot water that clears up when only cold water runs
- Repeated repairs within a short span, such as an element, then a thermostat, then a valve
- A unit old enough that its rating label date is hard to find or read
If the leak is coming from a fitting or the relief valve, that is a repair, and repairing the existing tank may be the better answer. The decision depends on where the water comes from, which is why the first visit starts with a look, not a quote.
Tank, hybrid or tankless: choosing what goes in
| Type | Fits when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard tank, gas | Gas is already piped to the heater and the vent is in good shape | Venting that no longer meets current code, and the gas connection |
| Standard tank, electric | The panel has capacity and the household wants the simplest swap | The size of the circuit and the recovery time after heavy use |
| Hybrid (heat pump) tank | The space has room and enough air around the unit | A condensate drain, clearance and a noise level you can live with |
| Tankless | You want hot water on demand and can supply the gas or power it needs | Gas line capacity, venting, and what happens when two fixtures run at once |
Hybrid units and standard tanks are replacement jobs and belong on this page. A tankless conversion changes the gas, vent or electrical supply, so it has its own page on switching to tankless.
Sizing, venting and the expansion tank: what the installer must check
A replacement is more than lifting one tank out and setting another in. The installer should confirm each of these before the old unit comes out.
- Capacity: how many people use hot water, and at what times of day.
- Venting: whether the existing flue or exhaust meets current requirements for the new unit.
- Gas or electric supply: connection type, shutoff valve and, for electric, the circuit rating.
- Relief valve and discharge pipe: the pipe must run to a safe location and not be capped.
- Thermal expansion: whether the house plumbing is a closed system, such as a check valve or pressure-reducing valve at the main, which usually calls for an expansion tank.
Ask directly whether an expansion tank is part of the job. Code work like this is the difference between a heater that passes inspection and one that gets cited.
Talk through your replacement options
Tell us whether the heater is gas or electric, where it sits and how old it is. We will go over the choices and what the job involves.
Permit first: how a replacement works inside Greer city limits
The City of Greer permits page lists replacement water heaters as work that needs a permit, and it says the contractor is responsible for obtaining it. It also warns that unpermitted work can bring daily fines and, in the worst case, orders to remove the work.
Ask whether the permit is included in the quote and ask for the permit number once it is issued. Outside the city limits, Greenville County or Spartanburg County sets the rules, and Greer sits in both, so the address decides which office applies. The permits office at (864) 848-2175 can confirm what your address needs.
Source: City of Greer planning and development permits
Gas or electric: whether to switch fuel
Staying with the same fuel keeps the job simple. Switching changes the supply, the venting and sometimes the panel, so each switch deserves its own line on the quote.
Greer CPW supplies natural gas inside its service area, so a gas heater in the city is usually on its system, and the utility answers at (864) 848-5500 for gas questions. If you smell gas at any point, leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
What installation day should include
- Shutoff and drain-down of the old unit, with the old tank removed from the house
- New shutoff valves and connectors where the old ones are worn
- A relief valve with a properly routed discharge pipe
- An expansion tank where the system calls for one
- Flame, venting and carbon monoxide checks on a gas unit
- A test of temperature and flow before the plumber leaves
- The permit inspection scheduled where the permit requires one
A plumber who walks through this list before the work starts is giving you something to hold the job against afterward.
Water quality: what Greer's soft water means for a new heater
Greer CPW's 2025 report lists average hardness at 34.86 ppm, about 2 grains per gallon, which is soft. A new heater in Greer does not need a softener to protect it from scale. If anyone sells one as part of the install, ask for a hardness reading at your own tap and read do you need a softener first.
Source: Greer CPW 2025 Water Quality Report
Questions to ask before you sign off on a water heater job
- Who is pulling the permit, and from which office?
- What size and type of heater is going in, and why that one for this house?
- Is an expansion tank included, and where will the discharge pipe run?
- What is being done with the old tank?
- How will the venting and gas connection be tested?
State licensing covers residential plumbing work worth more than five hundred dollars, and a full replacement is the kind of job to ask about. License details are available on request before work begins.
Water heater replacement questions from Greer homeowners
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Greer?
Inside Greer city limits, yes. The City of Greer lists replacement water heaters as work that needs a permit and says the contractor obtains it. Outside the city, Greenville County and Spartanburg County handle permits, so confirm which office covers your address before work starts.
How do I know it is time to replace my water heater?
A leak from the tank body, rusty hot water that clears on cold, and repeated repairs in a short span are the clearest signs. A leak from a fitting or a valve is usually a repair. Ask the plumber to show you where the water is coming from.
Does a hybrid heat pump water heater need special space?
Yes. It needs clearance, enough air around the unit and a place for the condensate to drain. Ask the installer to check the room before you choose one, because the same tank in a closet may not work.
What changes if I switch from gas to electric?
The fuel supply, the venting and sometimes the electrical panel. Switching fuel adds work beyond a like-for-like swap, so each change should be a separate line on the quote.