Based in Leesburg, VA

Water Heater Replacement in Leesburg

Water Heater Replacement in Leesburg, VA: tank or tankless, we pull the old unit and install the new one the same day.

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Leesburg Water Heater Replacement, Explained

Water heater replacement in Leesburg is exactly what Brick Street Plumbing Heat & Air does every week for Loudoun County homeowners who've run out of hot water, found a puddle on the utility floor, or are simply tired of paying to keep a 15-year-old tank alive. If your unit is failing, call (240) 969-4911 now. Our licensed, factory-certified technicians are available 24/7 and we don't charge overtime, even on a Sunday night.

A straightforward tank replacement on a standard 40- or 50-gallon unit is typically a half-day job. Switch to a tankless system, add an expansion tank to meet current Leesburg code, or deal with a tight utility closet in an older downtown home, and the scope grows. What drives the final cost: the type and capacity of the unit, whether your gas or electrical supply needs upgrading, whether an expansion tank is required, and the complexity of the existing connections. We give you a clear number before we touch anything. Every job is different -- contact Brick Street Plumbing Heat & Air for an accurate estimate.

Signs Your Water Heater Needs Replacing

Most water heaters give you warnings. Here's what to watch for before the failure becomes a flood.

Age Over 10-12 Years

Tank water heaters in Loudoun County typically last 8 to 12 years. Hard water accelerates mineral buildup on the heating element and inside the tank walls, shortening that window. If yours is past the decade mark, a repair often just postpones the replacement.

Rust-Colored or Cloudy Water

Discolored hot water usually means the anode rod is depleted and the tank interior is corroding. Once rust gets into the water, the tank can't be saved. This is a replacement call, not a repair.

Rumbling or Popping Sounds

Sediment settles at the bottom of the tank over time. In Leesburg, where water hardness consistently runs high, that buildup happens faster than average. The sounds you're hearing are minerals burning on the burner. Efficiency drops and the tank wall thins.

Water Pooling Around the Base

A slow seep around the tank base almost always means the tank body has cracked from corrosion or thermal expansion. Once water is escaping the tank itself, replacement is the only fix. Don't wait for the seep to become a rupture.

Inconsistent Hot Water

If you're running out of hot water faster than you used to, or the temperature fluctuates despite your thermostat setting staying the same, the heating element or burner is failing. At a certain point, a new unit simply outperforms a repaired one.

Repair Bills Adding Up

One repair on a middle-aged unit is a reasonable call. Two repairs in the same year, or a single repair that costs more than a third of the unit's replacement cost, almost never makes financial sense. We'll tell you honestly which side of that line you're on.

The Process

What Happens on Replacement Day

No mystery, no surprises. Here's exactly what to expect when our crew arrives.

Assessment and Setup
We shut off the water supply and power or gas to the existing unit, then drain the tank completely. Before the old unit comes out, we check the expansion tank if one is present, inspect the supply lines, and note anything the new installation needs to account for -- clearances, code requirements, venting.
Removal and Installation
The old unit gets pulled and properly disposed of. The new unit goes in, connections are made, and we verify expansion tank installation where required by Leesburg and Loudoun County codes. Gas units get a leak check. Electric units get load verification. Tankless installs include flushing the new heat exchanger before first use.
Testing and Walkthrough
We fire up the unit, confirm temperature settings, verify pressure relief valve function, and check every connection under operating pressure. Before we leave, we walk you through the new system -- how to adjust temperature, when to flush sediment annually, and what the warranty covers.

Tank vs. Tankless

Choosing the Right System for Your Home

Loudoun County's newer subdivisions -- Brambleton, Broadlands, South Riding -- see a lot of tankless upgrades because the homes were built with the gas line capacity to support them and the owners plan to stay long enough to realize the efficiency savings. Older Leesburg homes, particularly those built before the mid-1990s, sometimes need a gas line upgrade before a tankless unit is viable, which changes the math. A tank unit makes sense if your household hot water demand is predictable, your existing infrastructure fits a direct swap, or the budget for a tankless install doesn't work right now. A tankless unit makes sense if you want on-demand hot water, lower monthly operating costs over a 15-to-20-year horizon, and you've got the space and line capacity to support the install. Honestly, either choice works well when it's matched to the right house. The sizing mistake we see most often is undersizing a tankless unit for a home with two or three simultaneous draw points -- a shower running while a dishwasher runs can overwhelm a unit spec'd too small. We size correctly the first time. For homes in Ashburn and Lansdowne where new construction is common, tankless is often the right call. For established neighborhoods around historic Leesburg, a direct tank replacement is frequently the faster, more cost-effective answer. We'll give you our honest read on which fits your situation.

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Expansion Tanks and Leesburg Code

An expansion tank absorbs the pressure that builds when your water heater heats water in a closed plumbing system. Loudoun County operates under a closed system, which means a backflow preventer is installed on the main water supply. Without an expansion tank, that thermal expansion has nowhere to go -- it stresses every valve, connection, and fitting in your system, and it voids most water heater warranties. If you're replacing a water heater and you don't currently have an expansion tank, we install one as part of the job. It's not an upsell. It's a code requirement in most Leesburg installations, and skipping it means the new unit's warranty is worthless from day one. Any plumber who doesn't bring this up during a replacement quote is either unaware of local code or choosing not to mention it. Our technicians are licensed plumbing professionals who know Loudoun County code. We handle the expansion tank, the pressure relief valve, and all required connections as part of a complete replacement -- not as add-ons you discover after the estimate. You can also ask us about sump pump installation if your utility area has drainage or flooding concerns alongside the water heater work.

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Our Record

What Leesburg Homeowners Say

4.6282 verified Google reviews

Fantastic service - bought a home with a very old hot water heater, and Brick Street’s quote came out to be substantially less than the other plumbers I spoke with. No compromise on service for the price, though - Mary was incredibly responsive and friendly when it came to scheduling a time to install the new water heater, and Tylerr did an outstanding job getting the water heater set up and running. Overall very easy to work with, reasonably priced, and professional!

Alex LafranceJul 2026 · Google

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent Service – Highly Recommend Brick Street Plumbing Water Heaters I recently had my entire HVAC system replaced after my old unit had been in my home for over 20 years. I requested an estimate through Home Depot, and they referred me to Brick Street Plumbing. Water Heaters, From beginning to end, my experience was excellent! Brian came to my home, carefully explained the different options available, and walked me through the entire installation process. He was very professional, knowledgeable, patient, and always available to answer my questions. Communication with Brian was outstanding throughout the entire project. One of the best parts of the installation was that they were able to relocate my water heater into an unused space in my basement. This made the entire HVAC area much more spacious, organized, and accessible. I am extremely happy with how everything turned out! I also want to recognize Austin, Gmo, and Dani for their excellent work. They were professional, hardworking, respectful of my home, and paid great attention to detail. The entire team did an amazing job! Replacing an HVAC system is a major investment, but Brick Street made the entire experience smooth and stress-free. I am extremely satisfied with the quality of their work, professionalism, and customer service. I highly recommend Brick Street to anyone looking for a reliable company for HVAC installation or replacement.

Jose CamposOct 2026 · Google

They did an outstanding job replacing my gas water heater with an electric one, including all the conversions.

Whiting WickerOct 2026 · Google

I couldn’t be happier with my experience with Brickstreet Plumbing and their installation of my new HVAC systems. From start to finish, the entire team demonstrated an outstanding level of professionalism, knowledge, and care. The quality of their work and the way they treated my home exceeded my expectations. Brian truly goes above and beyond to make sure everything is done right and that his customers are completely satisfied. He takes pride in his work and leads a team that reflects the same high standards. I especially want to recognize Marlon, Austin, and Dani. They were absolutely fantastic! All three showed incredible professionalism, respect, and dedication throughout the job. They were meticulous with every detail, took the time to make sure everything was properly installed, and maintained a clean and organized work area. They treated my home with care and respect, which meant a great deal to me. Their attention to detail, work ethic, and commitment to doing things the right way truly stood out. You can tell they take pride in their work and genuinely care about the quality of the results. I would recommend Brickstreet Plumbing to everyone without hesitation. I will absolutely hire them for future projects. After experiencing this level of service, professionalism, and trust, I honestly cannot imagine going with another company. Thank you, Brian, Marlon, Austin, and Dani, for doing such an outstanding job! You have earned my trust and appreciation, and I highly recommend your team to anyone looking for exceptional plumbing and HVAC services.

Aman SethiOct 2026 · Google

Update 10/2/2026 The manager got in touch with us and promptly sent out a service technician that was able to quickly diagnose and troubleshoot the issue with our thermostat. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We got our AC replaced by Brick Street through Home Depot. After a week our AC wasn't working so we had to put in a service call. They came out and fixed it. Then our heating wasn't working and we put in a service call to have a tech come out to and troubleshoot but their HVAC department has been non responsive via email or voice mail. We are not able to get in contact with them at all. Will not be doing business with this company again. Very poor customer service.

Hai NguyenOct 2026 · Google

Great service and installation by Tyler!

Adrian CalameAug 2026 · Google

Very very pleasant and professional and explained everything...

Mary CarterJul 2026 · Google

Read all 282 reviews

We Also Handle These Plumbing Needs

Water heater replacement is one part of what Brick Street covers for Loudoun County homeowners. If you're having other plumbing or HVAC issues at the same time, we can often address them in the same visit.

In the field

A look at our work

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Schedule Your Water Heater Replacement

282 Loudoun County homeowners have rated Brick Street 4.6 stars on Google. Dual-certified, licensed technicians. 24/7 availability with no overtime fees.

Call (240) 969-4911 now or schedule online. We serve Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Lansdowne, Brambleton, Broadlands, South Riding, Purcellville, and all of Loudoun County.

Open now · 24/7

(240) 969-4911

Based in Leesburg, VA.

4.6 from 282 Google reviews

Call now Request an estimate

Frequently asked questions

When does it make more sense to replace a water heater than repair it?

If the tank body is leaking, replacement is the only option -- there's no patching a corroded tank. For mechanical failures like a bad heating element or thermocouple, repair is reasonable on a unit under 8 years old. Past that threshold, or if you're facing a second repair in the same year, replacement typically costs less over the next five years than keeping the old unit running. We'll give you an honest comparison.

What size water heater do I need for my Leesburg home?

For a standard tank unit, a household of 1-2 people typically needs 30-40 gallons; 3-4 people, 40-50 gallons; 5 or more, 50-80 gallons. With tankless systems, sizing is based on gallons-per-minute demand at peak use, not storage capacity. Undersizing a tankless unit is the most common mistake we see. We calculate your peak demand before recommending a unit so you're not disappointed on a busy morning.

How long does a water heater replacement typically take?

A direct tank-for-tank swap on an accessible unit generally takes 2 to 3 hours from the time we arrive. A gas-to-electric conversion, a new tankless installation, or a job in a tight utility closet takes longer -- typically 4 to 6 hours. If additional work is needed, like a gas line upgrade or new electrical circuit, we'll tell you upfront, not halfway through the job.

Do I need an expansion tank with a new water heater in Loudoun County?

In most cases, yes. Loudoun County operates as a closed plumbing system with backflow preventers on the main supply line. When a water heater heats water, pressure builds with nowhere to go. An expansion tank absorbs that pressure, protecting your valves, fixtures, and the water heater itself. Most water heater manufacturers also require one as a condition of the warranty. We include the expansion tank assessment in every replacement estimate.

Does Northern Virginia's hard water really affect how long a water heater lasts?

It does, and it's measurable. Loudoun County water runs hard, which means mineral deposits settle on the heating element and tank floor faster than in soft-water areas. Left unaddressed, sediment acts as insulation between the burner and the water, reducing efficiency and accelerating corrosion. Annual flushing extends the life of a tank unit. A tankless unit with a descaling flush every 1-2 years handles hard water better long-term.

What should I do to prepare before the installation crew arrives?

Clear a path to the water heater so the crew can move the old unit out without damaging floors or walls. If it's in a closet, remove anything stored in front of it. Locate your main water shutoff in case there's a question during the job. That's really it -- our technicians handle the rest, including draining the old tank, removing it, and cleaning up the work area before they leave.

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