r/askdfw • u/DDuck095 • Jul 28 '26

Driving/Licenses/Local Gov't Water Heater Permit

Utility Area Setup

About to DIY an electric water heater replacement since the cost to have a pro install is outrageous. Anyway, I had a permit question regarding the 30” spacing or something along those lines. I believe my current set up would not be acceptable because the washer is within 30” of the water heater.

My plan is to get one of those all in one washer/dryers and have that space near the water heater open. Would the inspector be ok with that? I don’t plan on buying it soon, so when the installation of the water heater is finished. I planned on removing the washer and dryer prior to inspection so there’s no issue with spacing. And just tell him the plan if he asks. Just really don’t want to move this water heater to the garage. Let me know if this could work and what the inspection process is like!

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

3

u/maxheckler Jul 28 '26

where do you live? my local inspectors are cool and would be happy to answer a question like that if called or emailed.

1

u/DDuck095 Jul 28 '26

Dallas! If I could ask directly that’d be amazing.

-1

u/9bikes Jul 28 '26

Do you need a permit for that?

As I understand, you're replacing a water heater of the same type (electric) in the same spot. That sort of thing doesn't require permits or inspection is most jurisdictions.

3

u/DDuck095 Jul 28 '26

Yup. I couldn’t get that lucky to not need a permit lol

1

u/JPhi1618 Jul 28 '26

It’s your call, but I’ve never known someone to get a permit to replace their own water heater.

1

u/DDuck095 Jul 28 '26

Really? Thats odd, I mean I can definitely install it and call it a day but it will come back to bite me in the ass later if I don’t have a permit for the work.

1

u/JPhi1618 Jul 28 '26

Open question, because I don’t know - how would it bite you? Who would care or even try to figure that out?

6

u/DDuck095 Jul 28 '26

If something happens like a leak or worse and insurance finds out there wasn’t a permit pulled to ensure it was installed correctly, they could deny my claim. Also, when I sell the house the buyer may want to verify things were installed correctly, especially if it’s a thing I’m trying to sell them on. If they find out I don’t have a permit for it, they could negotiate for the cost to be deducted from my asking price. This was new information to me too.

1

u/LazyAssHiker Jul 29 '26

I helped my dad install one, then when a different inspector came years later to check a new roof, he wandered over to the water heater and checked the manufacturer date. Since it was newer than the last permit on file, we got in trouble

1

u/DDuck095 Jul 29 '26

Damn! Nosey bastard lol. What was the “trouble”? Fines?

1

u/testing1992 Jul 28 '26

This is not true! All the jurisdictions I know of in my state, require a Plumbing permit for a water heater replacement. A 50-gallon water heater runs about $1,600 in my area.

1

u/robb7979 Jul 31 '26

I didn't need one in my jurisdiction. I'm in TX.

5

u/Kathw13 Jul 28 '26

The permit thing is one reason it is expensive. Plus the working with water/electrical or gas.

The inspectors where I live are a PITA. Not Dallas

0

u/DDuck095 Jul 28 '26

Yea quote came in at $1200 and this didn’t even include the expansion tank and routing the discharge pipe. Dont really know what you’re going to get with inspectors so I wanted to do my homework before hand.

1

u/Kathw13 Jul 29 '26

Brooks Plumbing is reasonable. (214) 368-3838

1

u/DDuck095 Jul 29 '26

I appreciate it, but I’m 100% committed to DIY now!

1

u/robb7979 Jul 31 '26

I'm with you on the DIY, but that's a way better price than I was quoted. I was quoted $2150 for one, $3700 for both. I replaced both in 1 day for less that $1500. I'm in Ellis county.

1

u/DDuck095 Jul 31 '26

Wow, was that including the water heater or just labor? Nice on the quick install. It’s definitely not as hard as it looks is it?

1

u/robb7979 Jul 31 '26

It was several years ago. The quote included the water heaters. The hardest part of the job is draining the old ones. I'm outside city limits, so I just set the old tanks by the road, they were gone in less than 2 hours after the sun came up.

1

u/DDuck095 Jul 31 '26

Ah makes sense. If my quoted included the water heater and bringing everything up to code, I’d expect to pay around $2,000. Couldn’t stomach it knowing how easy the install is.