Robbins Water Heaters

Two minutes now saves an hour in your basement.

Every install runs on our six-point plan. Points one and two happen before we even knock — knowing exactly what's down there, and how we get to it.

01 · 02 — you're here03 – 06 on site

Already texted us a photo? You're most of the way there.

The photo tells us the make and the model. This tells us how to get to it — which is the part that decides whether we're done in an hour or three.

Send a photo of the tank & its label
Where are we headed?

So we arrive at the right door with the right truck stock.

Gas or electric?

The single most useful thing you can tell us. If you're not sure, that's a fine answer — say so and send the photo.

Roughly what size?

It's printed on the label. A guess is better than nothing.

How old, about?

Anything past twelve years and we'll talk to you about the rebate options rather than a like-for-like swap.

Where does it live?

Old Delco houses hide them in some creative places.

Getting it out — check anything true

A forty-gallon tank full of sediment weighs more than you'd think. This is the question that decides whether we bring a second pair of hands.

What's happening right now?

This sets how fast we move.

Shut the water off to it now.

Two pipes go into the top. You want the cold one — it's the one that isn't warm to the touch, usually on the right. Follow it up about a foot and there's a valve.

water heater hot cold turn this way until it stops shut-off valve
The valve sits on the cold pipe, a foot or so above the tank.
  1. 1Turn that valve clockwise until it stops. If the handle is a lever, turn it so it sits across the pipe rather than along it.
  2. 2Gas: turn the dial on the front of the tank to OFF. Electric: switch off its breaker.
  3. 3Call us. Don't finish this form first.

If the valve won't turn or there isn't one, shut off the water to the whole house instead — usually where the main line enters, near the meter — and call. A seized shut-off is common on an old tank and it is not your fault.

Call (610) 424-8265
Do you own the home?

We pull the permit in the owner's name, so we need to know who that is.

Anything else we should know?

We set every tank to 120°F, which is the anti-scald recommendation. If someone in the house needs it different, tell us here.

Got it — that's points one and two done.

Maine has what he needs to load the truck properly. If anything changes before we get there, just call.

Call (610) 424-8265