Locally Owned · Serving Midlothian for 40+ Years
Water Heater Repair & Installation in Midlothian, VA
No Hot Water? Leaking Tank?
Stoneman Heating & Air Conditioning repairs and replaces water heaters for homes in Midlothian, Chesterfield, Chester and Powhatan: tank and tankless, gas, propane and electric. Call (804) 744-6105 and a person in our Midlothian office answers, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Outside those hours, we’re on call 24/7. A repair visit starts with a diagnostic, $135 during business hours or $195 after hours and on weekends, and you get the price before any work begins. If the heater needs replacing, the estimate is free.
Virginia Class A Contractor #2705193277 ● BBB A+ Accredited ● Trane Dealer ● Rheem Pro Partner ● Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Contractor
Should You Repair or Replace Your Water Heater?
Repair a water heater that’s under about 8 years old when a replaceable part has failed. Replace it when the tank itself is leaking or corroded, or when it’s past 10 years and the problems keep coming back. Most tanks last 8 to 12 years, and the risk of a leak rises after 10. Elements, thermostats, anode rods, gas controls and relief valves are made to be replaced, at far less than the cost of a new heater.
Usually a repair:
- No hot water, or it runs out fast, on an electric heater
- A gas heater whose pilot or burner won’t stay lit
- A relief valve that drips
Usually a replacement:
- Water leaking from the base of the tank
- Rusty or discolored hot water
- Rumbling or popping from hardened sediment on the tank floor
Tank or Tankless: Which Water Heater Should You Get?
Choose a tank water heater for the lower-cost, like-for-like replacement, and a tankless one if you’d rather pay more up front for a heater that lasts longer and doesn’t run out, as long as it’s sized for the hot water your household uses at once. We install Rheem tank water heaters in 40 and 50 gallon gas and electric models and 50 gallon propane, and Rheem tankless water heaters. For tankless, we measure the space and ask about your showers, laundry and dishwasher before we quote.
| Tank | Tankless | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Keeps 40 to 50 gallons hot | Heats water as it flows |
| Typical life | 8 to 12 years | 15 to 20 years or more |
| Hot water | Runs out when the tank is empty | Doesn’t run out, within its flow rate |
| Up-front cost | Lower | Higher |
| Install | Usually a like-for-like swap | Gas units usually need new venting |
How Much Does Water Heater Repair Cost in Midlothian?
A Stoneman water heater repair visit is a flat diagnostic fee of $135 to $195, depending on when you call. Once the problem is found, you get the repair price before any work begins.
| When we come out | Diagnostic fee |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm | $135 |
| After hours and weekends | $195 |
| After hours, maintenance agreement members | $155 |
A replacement depends on the size, gas or electric, tank or tankless, and whether the venting has to change, so we quote it after a free in-home estimate. If you’re a Columbia Gas customer and heat your home with gas, a high-efficiency gas water heater may qualify for a WarmWise rebate.
Why Midlothian Homeowners Call Stoneman for Water Heaters
A Real Person Answers
Call during office hours and a person in our Midlothian office answers, not a phone tree.
Repair First When It Makes Sense
If a new element or thermostat fixes it, that's what we recommend. We'll tell you when a tank is past saving.
Water Heater and HVAC, One Company
The team that services your furnace and AC handles your water heater, and adding it to your HVAC agreement costs less.
40+ Years, Locally Owned
5.0 stars from more than 370 Google reviews, an A+ from the BBB, and a Virginia Class A Contractor license.
Do You Need a Permit to Replace a Water Heater in Chesterfield?
Yes, if it burns gas. Chesterfield County requires a gas permit to replace any gas water heater, propane included, and the job isn’t finished until it passes the county’s final gas inspection. Replacing an electric water heater with a new electric one needs no permit. On gas replacements, we pull the permit and schedule the inspection. If you’re also moving to a high-efficiency furnace, ask about the water heater’s venting: one that shared the old furnace’s flue may need its own, which we cover on our heating installation page.
We’re based at 1636 Oak Lake Blvd E in Midlothian and work on water heaters across Midlothian, Chesterfield, Chester and Powhatan. Not sure if you’re in our area? Call (804) 744-6105 and ask.
Water Heater Repair & Installation FAQs
Should I call a plumber or an HVAC company for a water heater?
Either can do it. In Virginia, an HVAC contractor’s license covers installing and repairing water heaters, and our Class A license includes that work. Calling us makes sense if you’d like the same company that services your furnace and AC to handle your water heater too, on one maintenance agreement.
What should I do if my water heater is leaking?
Close the cold-water valve on the pipe above the heater, then turn off its breaker if it’s electric, or set the gas control to off if it’s gas. Then call (804) 744-6105. We’re on call 24/7, and after-hours and weekend visits are $195 ($155 for members).
Should I switch to a tankless water heater?
It’s worth it if you plan to stay in the home and want hot water that doesn’t run out. If you mainly want the lowest price, a new tank is the simpler swap.
Does a water heater need maintenance?
Yes, about once a year. Flushing the tank clears sediment, and checking the anode rod catches corrosion before it reaches the tank. We do both in a yearly water heater inspection, on its own or for less with an HVAC maintenance agreement.
No Hot Water? We're On Call 24/7
Locally owned and serving Midlothian for more than 40 years