Hear from Our Customers
Cold water in the middle of a shower isn’t just annoying. It throws off your whole day. When your water heater stops working right, you need someone who can diagnose it fast and fix it correctly—not someone who’s going to upsell you into a full replacement when a repair would do the job.
That’s where experience matters. Our plumbers have seen it all—sediment buildup from Rockledge’s mineral-rich water, failing heating elements, corroded anode rods, and pressure valve issues. Most problems can be fixed same-day if you call early enough.
If replacement makes more sense, you’ll know why. You’ll get a clear explanation of what’s wrong, how long a repair will last, and what a new unit costs—including labor, removal, and disposal. No pressure. Just honest information so you can make the right call for your home and your budget.
Drain Wizard is a family-owned plumbing company based in Cocoa, serving Rockledge and all of Brevard County since 2007. We bring over 40 years of combined plumbing experience—and 20 years of military service—so our work ethic is built on accountability, not shortcuts.
Every plumber on our team is state-certified. That means proper code compliance, quality parts, and installations done right the first time. You’re not getting a handyman with a YouTube education—you’re getting licensed professionals who’ve handled hundreds of water heater jobs across the Space Coast.
Rockledge homeowners deal with unique challenges: high humidity, salt air, and hard water that accelerates wear on plumbing systems. Most homes in the area are over 30 years old, which means aging infrastructure and water heaters working overtime. We know what breaks, why it breaks, and how to fix it for the long haul.
First, you’ll talk to someone who actually answers the phone—not a voicemail system. You’ll describe what’s happening, and we’ll ask a few questions to figure out if it’s an emergency or something that can wait a day or two. If it’s urgent, same-day service is available.
When we arrive, we’ll inspect your water heater, check for leaks, test the heating elements or burner, and look at the age and condition of the tank. If it’s repairable, we’ll explain what’s wrong and give you a price before starting work. If it needs replacement, we’ll walk you through your options—standard tank or tankless, gas or electric—and explain what makes sense for your home and hot water usage.
Installation includes removing your old unit, hauling it away, installing the new water heater to Florida code, and testing everything before we leave. Most replacements are done in a few hours. Repairs are usually faster. Either way, you’ll have hot water by the end of the day—and a clear understanding of what was done and why.
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Every water heater repair or replacement from Drain Wizard includes a full system inspection, honest diagnosis, and upfront pricing. There are no hidden fees or surprise charges after the work is done. If it’s a repair, you get quality parts and a fix that’s built to last—not a Band-Aid that fails in three months.
For replacements, the service includes removal and disposal of your old unit, installation of the new water heater, all necessary connections and fittings, code-compliant work, and a final walkthrough so you understand how your new system operates. If you’re upgrading to a tankless water heater, we’ll explain the differences in performance, energy savings, and maintenance requirements.
Rockledge’s hard water is tough on water heaters. Sediment from minerals builds up faster here than in other parts of the country, which means tanks fail sooner and heating elements burn out more often. We flush sediment during service calls and recommend maintenance schedules based on your water quality—not a generic timeline pulled from a manual. That’s the kind of local knowledge that keeps systems running longer and saves you money over time.
If your water heater is less than eight years old and the problem is something like a faulty heating element, thermostat, or pressure valve, repair usually makes sense. These are common issues that can be fixed affordably and will give you several more years of reliable service.
If your unit is 10 years or older and you’re dealing with a major leak, rust in the tank, or repeated failures, replacement is usually the smarter move. At that age, you’re looking at a system that’s already lived most of its expected lifespan. Pouring money into repairs might buy you another year, but you’ll likely face another breakdown soon after.
A good rule: if the repair costs more than half the price of a new water heater, and your unit is in the back half of its life, replacement makes more financial sense. We’ll walk you through the math and let you decide. There’s no upselling—just honest advice based on what we see and what your system can realistically deliver.
A standard tank water heater stores 40 to 50 gallons of hot water and keeps it heated around the clock. When you use hot water, the tank refills and reheats. It’s reliable, affordable to install, and works well for most homes. The downside is that once the tank runs out, you’re waiting for it to reheat—and you’re paying to keep that water hot even when you’re not using it.
A tankless water heater heats water on demand. When you turn on the tap, cold water flows through a heating element and comes out hot instantly. There’s no storage tank, so you never run out of hot water. Tankless units are more energy-efficient and can save 30 to 50 percent on your water heating costs over time. They also last longer—up to 20 years compared to 10 to 12 for a tank.
The tradeoff is upfront cost. Tankless systems cost more to buy and install, especially if your home needs electrical or gas line upgrades. But if you have a larger household, use a lot of hot water, or plan to stay in your home for a while, the energy savings and endless hot water can make it worth it. We install both types and can help you figure out which one fits your situation and budget.
Most standard water heater replacements take three to five hours from start to finish. That includes disconnecting and removing your old unit, installing the new one, making all the necessary water and gas or electrical connections, and testing the system to make sure everything works properly.
If you’re switching from electric to gas, or if your home needs updates to meet current Florida building codes, it might take longer—sometimes a full day. Tankless installations can also take longer if new venting or electrical work is required. We’ll give you a realistic timeline before we start so you know what to expect.
In most cases, if you call in the morning, you’ll have hot water again by the end of the day. Emergency service is available for urgent situations, and same-day installation is possible depending on scheduling and equipment availability. The goal is always to get your home back to normal as quickly as possible without cutting corners on quality or safety.
If your water heater used to keep up but now runs out of hot water halfway through a shower, sediment buildup is usually the culprit. Rockledge’s water is high in minerals, and over time those minerals settle at the bottom of the tank. That layer of sediment takes up space where hot water should be, and it also insulates the heating element, making it work harder and heat less efficiently.
Another common cause is a failing heating element or thermostat. If one of your heating elements burns out, your water heater can only heat half the tank. You’ll get some hot water, but not enough. A faulty thermostat can cause the same problem by not signaling the heating elements to kick on when the water temperature drops.
Less common but still possible: your household’s hot water demand has increased. If you’ve added people to your home, installed new appliances, or started using more hot water than before, your current water heater might just be undersized for your needs. We can assess your usage, check for sediment and mechanical issues, and recommend whether a flush and repair will solve it or if it’s time to upgrade to a larger tank or tankless system.
Simple repairs like replacing a thermostat or heating element typically run between $150 and $400, depending on the part and labor involved. Pressure relief valve replacements are in the same range. If you need a full drain and flush to remove sediment buildup, expect to pay $100 to $200—and it’s one of the best maintenance services you can do to extend your water heater’s life.
More involved repairs, like fixing a gas valve or replacing multiple components, can cost $400 to $600. At that point, if your water heater is older, you’re getting close to the cost of a new unit. A standard 40-gallon electric water heater replacement in Rockledge runs between $600 and $1,600 installed, which includes the unit, labor, removal of the old water heater, and disposal.
We provide free estimates, so you’ll know exactly what the repair costs before any work begins. If replacement makes more sense, we’ll explain why and give you a clear price for that too. There’s no obligation, no pressure—just honest pricing so you can make an informed decision. South Florida tends to have lower installation costs than the national average, so you’re already starting from a better place than most of the country.
Yes. We offer same-day service for water heater emergencies in Rockledge and throughout Brevard County. If your water heater is leaking, completely out of hot water, or showing signs of a serious malfunction, you can call and speak to someone right away—not a voicemail system.
Emergency service is available seven days a week. Depending on the time of day and our schedule, most emergency calls are handled within a few hours. If it’s a situation that can wait until the next morning without causing damage or major inconvenience, we’ll let you know that too. We’re not going to charge you emergency rates if it’s not truly an emergency.
Water heater problems don’t wait for business hours, and neither do we. Whether it’s a weekend, holiday, or middle of the night, you’ll get a real person on the phone and a licensed plumber at your door as soon as possible. The focus is always on getting your hot water restored quickly and correctly—so your day can get back on track.
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