Professional Water Heater Replacement in Charlottesville, VA
Leaking tank? Rusty water? Unit past its prime? We install tank & tankless.
Free in-home estimate. Upfront pricing on tank and tankless options. A written estimate before any work starts.
Most installations done the same day you call.
Schedule Your FREE Water Heater Replacement Estimate
Leave your number and we’ll call within 15 minutes to schedule.
Or call us now: (434) 505-4780
This was the best experience I have ever had with a service company. I contacted them before 8am, they responded immediately and were here to look at my water heater in 2 hours. Don took the time to explain everything (he’s a plumbing instructor!) I’m so impressed I want them to do my HVAC, too! Wow. Just wow. Ten stars!!
Why Charlottesville homeowners choose The Otter Guys
65+ years installing water heaters in Central Virginia
Since 1960, we’ve installed every type — gas tank, electric tank, gas tankless, hybrid heat pump, power vent. Three generations of family ownership. Our trucks stock the most common replacement units so we can often install the same day we quote.
Honest sizing — not an upsell
An oversized water heater wastes money; an undersized one runs out of hot water. We evaluate your household size, fuel type, and hot water usage before recommending a unit. If your current one has real life left, we’ll tell you that too.
Upfront pricing with financing options
You get a written estimate with the total installed price for both tank and tankless — plus financing options approved in about 2 minutes. See the monthly payment before you commit.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
On every job, every time
Licensed & Insured
VA License #2705181379
BBB A+ Rated
Accredited business
Charlottesville’s Finest
Gold Award 2023–2025
Signs it’s time for a new water heater
Leaking Tank
Water pooling around the base means the tank is corroded through. This isn’t repairable — replace it before it fails catastrophically.
Rusty or Discolored Water
Brown or rust-colored hot water means the tank’s inner lining has corroded. The unit is near end of life — replacement avoids a leak later.
10+ Years Old
Tank water heaters last 8–12 years; tankless last 20+. Past that range and giving trouble, replacement is usually cheaper long-term than another repair.
Rising Utility Bills
Old water heaters lose efficiency as sediment builds up. A new tank or tankless unit can cut water heating costs 20–40% and often pays back inside 5 years.
Running Out of Hot Water Fast
Your family grew or the old unit is undersized. We’ll size a new tank — or install a tankless that never runs out — to match your household.
Repeated Repairs
Spent $500+ on water heater repairs in the last two years? That money is gone. A new unit comes with a full parts-and-labor warranty and zero surprises for 8–12 years.
Trusted by 6,000+ Charlottesville homeowners
“Scott installed a new hot water heater for me. It was a challenging situation with icy conditions outside of my house. A second person, Dylan, was called over to help out. Scott is a seasoned plumber, with so much expertise that it’s coming out of his ears. They spent the extra time it required to make sure that I had a new hot water heater installed today. Having a broken down hot water heater was a huge stressor that is now off of my shoulders. I highly recommend them.”Carrie Smith Google Review
“Malec was our tech. He was very thorough in his investigation to our water heater problem and water quality check. He respected our home and gave advice on what to expect next. Otter Guys offered us 4 solutions and Malec talked us through where it would be best to start to solve our situation and not just put a bandaid on it. I would highly recommend Otter Guys for their techs professionalism and timely service.”Luke Davies Google Review
“Malak was very knowledgeable and repaired my water heater very quickly. He even gave me a free water evaluation. The Otter Guys are the best.”Denise Dezio Google Review
Here’s how water heater replacement works
Free in-home estimate
A licensed plumber visits your home, checks the old unit, evaluates the space, fuel type, and venting, and asks about your household’s hot water usage. No charge, no obligation.
Tank vs. tankless — your options
You get two written estimates with upfront pricing: one for a like-for-like tank replacement, one for a tankless upgrade. We walk through cost, longevity, energy savings, and space so you can pick what fits.
Same-day or next-day installation
Once you approve, we haul off the old unit, install the new one, update the water and gas connections to code, and test everything. Tank replacements take 2–4 hours; tankless 4–8 hours if venting or gas line upgrades are needed.
Old Water Heater on Its Last Legs? Don’t Wait for a Flood.
A failing water heater rarely gives a warning — it just lets go, usually at 2 a.m., and floods a utility closet or basement. Proactive replacement is a fraction of the cost of replacement plus water damage. Call now for a free estimate on tank and tankless — you’ll know exactly what it costs and what your monthly payment would be before you decide anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Standard tank water heaters (40–50 gallon) typically run $1,800 to $3,500 installed, depending on fuel type (gas or electric), capacity, and any code updates required. Tankless units range from $4,000 to $7,500 installed — they cost more upfront but last 20+ years and use less energy. Every quote includes haul-off of the old unit and all new connections. We’ll give you an exact number before any work starts.
Tankless makes sense if you have a family of 3+ who runs out of hot water, you have space constraints (tankless is wall-mounted), or you plan to stay in the home 10+ years (the efficiency savings add up). Tank water heaters are still the right call for smaller households, tighter budgets, or homes without the gas line capacity for tankless. We’ll help you pick during the estimate — no pressure either way.
Tank replacement: 2–4 hours for a like-for-like swap. Tankless installation: 4–8 hours, longer if we need to add venting, upgrade the gas line, or re-route water lines. We’ll give you a firm timeline when we present your estimate so you can plan the day.
Yes. We offer financing plans from 5 to 15 years with approvals in as little as 2 minutes. Monthly payments typically run $35–$150 depending on the unit and term. You’ll see the exact monthly number on your estimate before you decide.
Often, yes. Our trucks stock standard 40-gallon and 50-gallon gas and electric tanks, so if your home doesn’t need custom sizing or a gas line upgrade, we can usually install the same day we quote. Tankless installations typically need to be scheduled for the following day. We serve Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the surrounding Central Virginia area.
Not sure whether to repair, replace, tank, or tankless? That’s exactly why we’re here. We’ve been installing water heaters in Central Virginia since 1960 — three generations of family ownership, one standard of work. Call today for a free estimate. You’ll get upfront pricing on every option before we do anything.