A Wilson water heater that leaks from the tank, runs rusty or keeps failing is usually due for replacement. Wilson has a few local specifics: its own city gas system, City inspections, and a rule that water heaters in garages be raised 18 inches. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Wilson.
Wilson is the Wilson County seat, with historic neighborhoods such as Old Wilson and West Nash Street and newer subdivisions mainly in the northwest. Census survey figures put the median home at 1983, with about 46% before 1980. Natural gas comes from Wilson Energy, the city-owned system with more than 400 miles of main and over 13,000 services; about 29% of homes in the 27893 ZIP heat with utility gas.
What to do now
- Stop any leak. Close the cold-water valve above the heater. Turn off the breaker for an electric unit or set a gas unit's control to off or pilot.
- Smell gas? Don't touch switches. Leave the house and call 911 or Wilson Energy from outside.
- Read the label. Note fuel, gallons and the manufacture date or serial number.
- Check the location. If the heater is in a garage, see whether it sits on a stand. The City lists garage water heaters not elevated 18 inches among its top code violations, and a replacement has to meet that rule.
- Know your jurisdiction. Inside the city, permits come from the City of Wilson Inspections Department's Permit Desk at City Hall, 112 Goldsboro St E. Outside city jurisdiction, Wilson County Inspections issues them.
- Call for help. A plumber can confirm whether it's a repair or a replacement and pull the permit.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Water pooling under the tank | Corroded tank or a leaking valve or fitting |
| Rusty hot water only | Corrosion inside the tank or a spent anode |
| Gas pilot keeps going out | Thermocouple, gas valve or draft problem |
| Not enough hot water | Sediment, a failed element or an undersized tank |
| Rumbling or popping | Sediment on the tank bottom |
City water uses free chlorine rather than chloramine, according to the 2022 report, so chloramine wear on rubber parts isn't the concern here that it is in many Triangle towns.
Cost factors
- Size, fuel and efficiency of the new heater
- A stand to raise a garage heater 18 inches
- Vent, gas connector or relief line updates in older homes
- Switching between gas and electric
- Permit and haul-away of the old unit
Water Heater Replacement questions in Wilson
Are there rules about where the new heater can sit?
Who provides natural gas here, and what should I do if I smell gas?
Which office handles the permit for a replacement water heater here?
Does the way the local water is treated matter for a new tank?
More plumbing services in Wilson
Water Heater Replacement nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
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