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GTAGTA Plumbing Company

Services · Hot water

Owned vs Rented Water Heaters for Homes Across the GTA

Rental water heaters are a long GTA tradition. Some homeowners are well served by them; others pay for decades for a tank long since paid off. We help you look at the numbers.

  • Hot water confirmed at the furthest tap
  • Burner, elements, anode and venting checked
  • Relief valve tested on every visit
Parallel runs of white supply pipe with elbows
Parallel runs of supply pipe and elbows.

Diagnosis first, tested after

Signs it is time to call

If you have just bought a home and inherited a rental, if the monthly fee has crept up, or if the rental tank needs replacing, it is a good time to read the contract. Terms vary widely between providers and contracts, including buyout schedules and removal fees.

  • Find your contract or most recent bill
  • Note the tank’s install date on the rating plate
  • Ask the provider for a written buyout figure

On the job, step by step

We do not sell contracts or financing. What we do is explain the options plainly: keep renting, buy out the existing tank, or have the rental removed and an owned tank installed. If replacement is chosen, we install the new heater and set the old one aside for the rental company to collect, following their return process. You keep the paperwork.

GTA houses and what they change

Rental agreements in Ontario have been the subject of consumer protection rules; check current guidance from the province and your contract’s cancellation terms before acting. Older contracts may differ from newer ones. Some providers require a return within a set time or charge fees. Keep records of every call and the return confirmation.

Before you pick up the phone

Ask the provider for the buyout price, any removal fee and how returns are handled. Then call (365) 387-8531 and we will help compare it with the cost of an owned tank.

Signs you need this

  • Rusty or brown water from the hot side only
  • A puddle at the foot of the heater after each burn cycle
  • Pilot will not stay lit, or elements trip the breaker

What is included

  • Pipe cutter and press toolNew shut-off, unions and expansion tank where needed
  • Drain hose and flushing kitSediment out of the bottom of the tank
Typical cause
Sediment, worn anode, failed thermocouple or element
Access point
Burner door, element covers, drain valve
Proof of fix
Full temperature at the furthest tap

Common questions

Can I just throw out a rental tank?

No. It belongs to the rental company. Follow their return process or you may be billed for it.

Related pages

Call now · (365) 387-8531