Hear from Our Customers
You’re not calling a plumber because everything’s fine. You’re calling because your morning shower went cold, there’s water pooling near the tank, or your unit is making sounds it shouldn’t make.
Here’s what you get when the repair is done right: hot water when you turn the tap. No more cold showers while you wait for someone to “fit you in.” No more towels on the floor catching drips from a water heater leaking at 2 a.m.
You also avoid the bigger mess that comes from ignoring it. In Rockwell’s humidity, even a small leak turns into mold fast. A failing unit doesn’t give you weeks of warning—it gives you a flooded laundry room and a bill that’s triple what a repair would’ve cost. Getting it handled early means you’re back to normal without the drama or the damage.
Drain Wizard is a family-owned plumbing company based right here in Brevard County. Carl, the owner, started learning the trade at 16 and brought over 40 years of combined experience to the Space Coast when he founded the business.
We’re not a national chain that sends whoever’s available. We’re local, we know how Florida’s hard water and humidity tear up hot water heaters faster than they should, and we’ve been handling these calls across Rockwell, Cocoa, Merritt Island, and Melbourne for years.
You’re working with a State Certified Master Plumber who understands the older cast iron systems still running in homes built before 1975, and the newer tankless units people are switching to. We show up when we say we will, we don’t upsell you on stuff you don’t need, and we clean up when we’re done.
First, you call or contact us and we set a time that works for you. We give you a free estimate with no obligation—you’re not locked into anything just because we came out to look.
When we arrive, we assess what’s going on with your unit. Is it the heating element? Thermostat? Sediment buildup from Florida’s mineral-heavy water? A crack in the tank that means replacement is the smarter move? We walk you through what we find and what it’ll take to fix it.
If it’s a repair, most jobs get handled the same day. If you need a new unit, we install Bradford White water heaters—quality equipment that holds up well in our climate. Installation typically takes about an hour. We also handle anything else that comes up during the job, like replacing a worn water main valve or making sure everything’s properly housed and code-compliant.
Once it’s done, you’ve got hot water again. We test it, clean up, and make sure you’re clear on what was done and what to watch for going forward.
Ready to get started?
You’re getting a full diagnostic, not a quick glance and a guess. We check the heating elements, thermostats, pressure relief valves, anode rods, and the tank itself for corrosion or leaks.
If your unit is repairable, we fix it with quality parts and make sure it’s running efficiently. If it’s shot, we’re honest about it—we’re not going to patch something that’ll fail again in three months. In that case, we walk you through replacement options that fit your home and budget, including tankless systems if that makes sense for your setup.
Rockwell homes deal with the same hard water issues the rest of Brevard County faces. Calcium and magnesium build up fast here, especially in older tank-style units. That sediment cuts efficiency, makes your heater work harder, and shortens its lifespan. We flush tanks when needed and recommend maintenance schedules that actually prevent problems instead of just reacting to them.
We also handle the stuff most homeowners don’t think about—like making sure your pressure relief valve isn’t stuck, your venting is up to code if you’ve got a gas unit, and your connections aren’t corroding from coastal air. It’s the difference between a patch job and a repair that lasts.
If your unit is less than 10 years old and the problem is something like a faulty thermostat, heating element, or pressure valve, repair usually makes sense. Those are straightforward fixes that get you back up and running without the cost of a new system.
If your water heater is over 12 years old, leaking from the tank itself, or showing rust in the water, replacement is the smarter move. Tank leaks don’t get better—they get worse. And once rust starts inside the tank, you’re on borrowed time.
In Florida, hard water speeds up wear. If you’ve never flushed your tank and it’s making rumbling or popping sounds, that’s sediment buildup. Sometimes a flush and element replacement can buy you a few more years. Other times, the damage is done and you’re better off upgrading to a newer, more efficient unit. We’ll give you an honest assessment either way.
Two big things: hard water and humidity. Florida’s water supply is loaded with calcium and magnesium, which means mineral buildup happens fast. That sediment settles at the bottom of the tank, makes your heating element work harder, and eventually causes it to burn out or the tank to corrode from the inside.
Humidity accelerates external corrosion too. The moisture in the air, especially near the coast, causes rust on metal tanks and fittings faster than you’d see in drier climates. If your water heater is in a garage or outdoor utility area, it’s even more exposed.
Most tank-style water heaters last 8 to 12 years depending on usage and maintenance. In Florida, you’re more likely to hit the lower end of that range if you’re not flushing the tank regularly or if your anode rod—the part that prevents internal rust—hasn’t been replaced. It’s not that Florida water heaters are built worse, it’s just that our environment is tougher on them.
Most repairs get done in under two hours. If we’re swapping out a heating element, thermostat, or pressure relief valve, it’s a pretty quick job once we’ve diagnosed the issue and have the right part on hand.
Replacement takes longer, but not by much. A standard tank-style water heater installation usually wraps up in about an hour, sometimes a bit more if we’re also replacing old shutoff valves or updating connections to meet current code. Tankless installations can take a few hours depending on whether we need to run new gas lines or upgrade electrical.
The bigger variable is whether we catch other issues while we’re in there—like a water main valve that’s seized up or venting that’s not up to code. We don’t leave those things half-done. If something needs addressing for safety or to prevent another call in six months, we handle it. You’re not waiting days for hot water. Most jobs start and finish the same day.
It depends on what’s wrong and how old the unit is. If you’re looking at a $200 repair on a 6-year-old water heater, fix it. If you’re looking at a $400 repair on a 13-year-old unit that’s already showing rust or struggling to keep up, put that money toward a replacement.
Here’s the math: a new water heater runs between $1,200 and $3,000 depending on the type and size. If your current unit is past its expected lifespan and you’re dumping money into repeated repairs, you’re just delaying the inevitable—and probably paying more in the long run.
Also consider efficiency. Older units cost more to run, especially if sediment buildup is making them work harder. A newer model, or switching to a tankless system, can lower your energy bills enough to offset some of the replacement cost over time. We’ll walk you through the actual numbers for your situation so you can make the call that makes sense, not just the one that sounds good in the moment.
Yes. If your water heater is leaking, completely out, or causing an issue that can’t wait until tomorrow, we handle emergency calls. Water heater failures don’t keep business hours, and in Florida’s humidity, a leak that sits overnight can turn into a mold problem by the weekend.
We prioritize emergencies and work to get someone out to you as quickly as possible. That said, “emergency” means your water heater is actively leaking, you’ve got no hot water and it’s affecting your household, or there’s a safety concern like a gas smell or electrical issue. If it’s something that can wait a day without causing damage, we’ll fit you in on the schedule as soon as we can.
Emergency service costs more than a standard appointment—that’s true across the industry. But if you’re dealing with water damage or a total system failure, waiting isn’t cheaper. We’ll assess the situation, stop the immediate problem, and get you a plan to fix it right. You’re not stuck mopping up water while you wait for a callback.
It depends on what’s broken. A thermostat or heating element replacement usually runs a few hundred dollars. A pressure relief valve or anode rod replacement is in that same range. If you need a full tank flush and multiple parts, you’re looking at more.
Replacement costs are higher—typically $1,200 to $3,000 depending on whether you’re going with a standard tank or upgrading to a tankless system. Tankless units cost more upfront but last longer and save on energy bills over time, which matters if you’re planning to stay in your home.
We give free estimates, so you know what you’re looking at before we start the work. No surprise charges, no “we found something else” upsells unless it’s a real safety issue or something that’ll cause another breakdown. Florida law requires licensed plumbers to install gas water heaters, and for good reason—improper sizing, venting, or connections can be dangerous. You’re paying for the work to be done right, by someone who’s certified and insured, so it actually lasts.
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