Water heater in Ottawa: repair it, replace it, or end the rental
Send the label photo, the fuel and what the water does. One independent Ottawa plumbing company gets the work order and calls you to price the repair or the new tank.
In short
- 01Replacing an existing hot water tank is on the City of Ottawa's list of work that needs no building permit.
- 02Gas water heater: Ontario allows only a person holding a certificate for that work to install, repair or remove it (O. Reg. 212/01, s. 6).
- 03Since March 1, 2018, a water heater may be offered or sold at your home only if you started the contact, or already have a contract with the seller and agreed in advance to hear an offer.
- 04Since June 6, 2024, new Notices of Security Interest for home equipment such as water heaters cannot be registered on title.
- 05Installed tank, Canada-wide guide: $1,000–$1,850. Tankless: $1,320–$3,700.
Typical ranges
Source HomeStars, How Much Does Plumbing Cost?, Canada-wide, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, Plumbing Services Cost Guide for Ottawa, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026. Permit: City of Ottawa, projects not requiring building permits, seen 29.10.2026. Gas: O. Reg. 212/01, s. 6, seen 29.10.2026. Door-to-door rules: Ontario, Rules for businesses entering into contracts at a consumer’s home, updated 25.09.2024, seen 29.10.2026. Title: Ontario, Notices of Security Interest, seen 29.10.2026.
What to ask before you book
- Q1Is the problem the tank or a part, and what does each option cost?
- Q2For a gas unit: what is the TSSA certificate number of the person doing the work?
- Q3Does your price include removing and disposing of the old tank?
- Q4Will the new unit fit the existing venting, gas line and space, or does that change too?
- Q5Is the price in writing, with the model, the parts warranty and the labour?
Before the visit
- A photo of the label on the tank: brand, model, serial number, capacity, gas or electric
- If you own the tank or rent it, and the rental company's name and account number if you rent
- What the water does: no hot water, lukewarm, runs out fast, rusty, a leak at the base
- A clear path to the tank and space around it, including the vent pipe
- Your rental contract, if there is one, before you agree to a new unit
Repair or replace: what decides it
A leak from the tank itself ends the tank; leaks at a fitting, a valve or the drain cock can often be fixed. Cold or lukewarm water can come from a single part: a thermostat or element on an electric unit, a burner or thermocouple on gas. Send the label photo and the symptom. The plumber can often tell from those two which visit it is.
Put the age in the work order if you know it, and say if the tank was installed with the house. The company prices both options so you can compare.
Gas units: who may touch them
Ontario’s gas regulation, O. Reg. 212/01, says only a person who holds a certificate for that purpose may install, alter, repair, service or remove a gas appliance. Ask the company for the TSSA certificate number of the person coming.
If you smell gas, leave the house and call Enbridge Gas at 1-866-763-5427 or 911 from outside.
Owned or rented: the Ontario rules
If your tank is rented, or someone offers you a new one, these provincial rules apply:
- Door-to-door sales. Since March 1, 2018, water heaters may be offered or sold at your home only if you started the contact, or if you already have a contract with the company and agreed in advance to hear an offer. A contract from unsolicited door-to-door marketing is void.
- Contracts signed at home. For water heaters and the other restricted products, the contract needs a signed cover page on consumer rights, and you have 10 days to cancel without reason or penalty.
- Notices on title. Since June 6, 2024, businesses cannot register Notices of Security Interest for consumer goods such as water heaters, and older consumer notices are deemed expired. The underlying rental contract stays in force.
Read your rental agreement before the plumber comes, so the removal and any return of the old tank are part of the plan.
What the quote should list
The new unit by make, model, capacity and fuel. Removal and disposal of the old tank. Any change to venting, the gas line or the electrical connection. Labour, parts warranty and HST. For a job worth more than $50, Ontario requires the agreement in writing.
Who you are dealing with
Ottawa Plumbing Desk passes your work order to one independent Ottawa plumbing company. That company calls you, prices the repair or the new tank, and does the work. We sell no water heaters and offer no rentals.
Questions
01Do I need a City permit to replace my water heater?
Replacing an existing hot water tank is on the City of Ottawa’s list of projects that need no building permit. A gas unit still has to be installed by a person who holds the right certificate under Ontario’s gas regulation.
02Someone knocked on my door offering a new water heater. Is that allowed?
Since March 1, 2018, water heaters are on Ontario’s list of products that cannot be offered or sold at your home unless you started the contact, or you already have a contract with the business and agreed in advance to hear an offer. A contract that comes from unsolicited door-to-door marketing is void, and you can keep the product without obligation.
03I rent my tank. Can I replace it with one I own?
Check your rental contract first: the end-of-contract terms, any buyout and who removes the rented tank. Ontario’s 2024 ban on consumer Notices of Security Interest leaves existing contracts in force, and the supplier keeps its rights under them. Tell the plumber the tank is a rental so the removal is planned.
04There is an old notice on my title from a water heater rental. What does it mean now?
The Homeowner Protection Act deems consumer Notices of Security Interest already on title to be expired. They still show on the title documents, but the land is no longer affected. Ontario says a lawyer can help remove one, for example when you sell or refinance.
05If I invite a company in and sign, can I change my mind?
For water heaters and the other restricted products, a consumer who invites a business home and signs has a 10-day cooling-off period, counted from the day you receive a written copy of the agreement. The contract must also carry Ontario’s cover page on consumer rights.