Before
After
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Navien tankless water heater replaces a corroded tank in Greenville
A corroded tank water heater replaced with a Navien NPE-240A2 tankless unit in the crawl space.
See the full jobWater heaters
Water heater repair and replacement
Water heater repair, replacement and tankless upgrades by licensed Master Plumbers across Greenville, Taylors, Mauldin and the Upstate.
A licensed Master Plumber on every job
4.8from 593 Google reviews
Who repairs and installs water heaters in Greenville, SC?
Ethical Plumbing repairs, replaces and installs tank and tankless water heaters across Greenville and the Upstate. A licensed plumber finds the cause first, then shows you repair and replacement options side by side with written prices. Call 864-438-0525 or book online.
- Tank and tankless
- Gas and electric
- All makes and models
- Recirculation (comfort) pumps
Hot water you do not have to think about
A water heater is one of the hardest-working appliances in the house, and most people only think about it when it stops. When it does, the right answer depends on the age of the unit, what failed, and how your household uses hot water.
We repair, replace and install tank and tankless water heaters, gas and electric, from all major manufacturers. Every visit starts with a licensed plumber finding the actual cause. From there you get honest options: repair the part that failed, replace the heater with the same type, or upgrade to tankless if it fits your home and budget. Each option comes with a written price.
If you are planning ahead, a yearly checkup on the VIP Prevention Plan includes your water heater: flushing sediment, testing the relief valve and checking the anode rod, which are the three things that most often decide how long a tank lasts.
Repair or replace?
Most tank water heaters last about 8 to 12 years. Tankless units often last 15 to 20 with yearly descaling. Age and the kind of failure decide which option costs less over time.
We always show you both options with written prices, so the choice is yours.
- Usually repair: under 10 years old and one part has failed
- Usually replace: the tank itself is leaking
- Usually replace: 10+ years old with repeated problems
- Worth a look: you run out of hot water every day
Tank or tankless?
A tank heater keeps 40 to 80 gallons hot and ready. A tankless unit heats water as it flows, so it never runs out, takes less space and lasts longer, but costs more up front and may need a larger gas line.
Tankless makes the most sense if your household runs out of hot water or you plan to stay in the home for years.
Water heaters in Upstate homes
Most homes in Greenville and Spartanburg are on city water, and Upstate city water is generally soft. That is easy on water heaters, so city-water tanks often reach the long end of their life span with basic maintenance.
Homes on private wells are different. Well water in the Upstate can carry iron and minerals that build up as scale and sediment, shortening tank life and clogging tankless heat exchangers. If you are on a well, yearly flushing or descaling matters more, and we may suggest filtration or a water softener to protect a new heater.
Many Upstate homes keep the water heater in a garage, attic or crawl space. Attic and upstairs heaters should always sit in a drain pan piped to the outside, so a slow leak does not come through the ceiling. We check for this on every install.
What affects the cost of a new water heater
We price every job in writing before work starts, and the number depends on a few things you can see coming:
- Tank size or tankless flow rate
- Gas, electric or heat pump
- Venting changes for gas units
- Moving the heater to a new spot
- Code updates, like an expansion tank or drain pan
- Removing and disposing of the old unit
How a visit works
You book a time
Online or by phone. We confirm your arrival window and call when the plumber is on the way, or text or email if we cannot reach you.
We find the cause
A licensed Master Plumber diagnoses the problem and explains it in plain terms.
You choose, in writing
You get your options side by side with written prices. Nothing starts until you approve.
We fix it and walk you through it
Clean work area, tested result, and a walkthrough before we leave.
Recent water heater repair jobs
Before
After
4
3
Tankless water heater swap in Greenville
An existing tankless water heater replaced with a new Navien unit, with clean, serviceable piping.
See the full jobWhy homeowners call Ethical Plumbing for water heaters
Every job starts with a diagnosis from a licensed Master Plumber, not a sales pitch. We explain what we found in plain terms, show you the options side by side, and put the prices in writing before anything starts. If a repair makes more sense than a replacement, we say so.
We treat your home like a job site that people live in: shoe covers on, work area protected, cleaned up before we leave, and a walkthrough of what we did. Ethical Plumbing has served the Upstate for 16+ years, and our team brings 100+ years of combined plumbing experience. You can meet our plumbers or read what customers say.
What customers say
Every review here is from a real customer. Names are shortened for privacy.
Google
Highly recommend Ethical Plumbers! They exchanged our old water heat tank with a tankless water heater and repiped the crawl space. From the first contact on the phone, the next day visit of the technician Daniel, then Ivan and Asher who did the whole work within less than two days – we felt treated with respect, everything was explained well and they left everything clean and did a very good job in total.
Google
Brendan came out same day to service our hot water heater. We have hot water now! They were friendly, honest, and we paid a fair price. If (when) we have plumbing needs in the future we will def give them a call.
Google
Prompt. Helpful. Answered every question. Transparent about what was taking place with our water heater replacement. Brendan, Scott Levi and Alicia were professional and friendly. Happy we called them.
Water heater repair across the Upstate
Water heater repair, replacement and installation for homes and businesses in 7 counties. Towns with a local page are linked.
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Greenville County, SC
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Spartanburg County, SC
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Pickens County, SC
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Anderson County, SC
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Henderson County, NC
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Polk County, NC
- Tryon
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Transylvania County, NC
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Also serving
- Seneca, SC
- Gray Court, SC
Water heater repair FAQs
How long does a water heater last?
Most tank water heaters last 8 to 12 years. Tankless units often last 15 to 20 years. Hard water and skipped maintenance shorten both.
How long does a water heater replacement take?
A straight swap of a tank water heater usually takes a few hours. Switching to tankless, or moving the heater, can take a full day because gas, venting or electrical work may change.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. Financing is available through GoodLeap on larger projects such as water heater replacement. VIP Prevention Plan members also get 0% financing options.
Do you service all brands?
Yes. We repair and replace tank and tankless water heaters from all major manufacturers, gas and electric.
What size water heater do I need?
Most homes with two or three people do well with a 40 to 50 gallon tank. Larger households often need 50 to 75 gallons, or a tankless unit. We size it to your household and the fixtures you run at the same time.
Gas or electric: which is better?
If your home has natural gas, a gas heater recovers faster and usually costs less to run. Electric is simpler where there is no gas line. Heat pump electric heaters use far less power but cost more up front.
How much does a new water heater cost?
It depends on size, fuel type and venting. You get a written price for each option before any work starts.
What is a recirculation (comfort) pump?
It keeps hot water close to your faucets, so it arrives in seconds instead of minutes, and less water goes down the drain while you wait.
Ready when you are
Tell us what's going on.
A Master Plumber will find the cause, explain it in plain terms, and put your options in writing before any work starts.
- A licensed Master Plumber on every job
- Serving the Upstate for 16+ years
- Written prices, every job