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No Hot WaterNo Hot Water This Winter? Water Heater Replacement in Greenwood and Indy
Searches for "no hot water" in Indiana run almost twice their yearly average in January. The water coming into the house is at its coldest, so an aging tank works its hardest, and the weak one quits. Here is what to check first, and when it is time to replace it.
Short answer: first check the simple things: the breaker for an electric heater, or the pilot and gas valve for a gas heater, following the label on the tank. If the tank is 10 to 15 years old, rusty, or leaking from the tank itself, replace it. A like-for-like 40-gallon tank swap totals $1,450 to $2,495 installed with the heater, and most jobs are finished in a single visit. Call or text (317) 893-3717.
First Checks When the Hot Water Stops
- Electric heater: check the breaker panel. A tripped water heater breaker that trips again right after you reset it points to a failed element or wiring, so leave it off.
- Gas heater: check that the gas valve is on and, on older tanks, whether the pilot is lit. Follow the lighting instructions on the tank label only.
- Look at the base. Water pooling under the tank, rust streaks, or a wet pan mean the tank is failing. Shut the cold-water valve on top of the heater and turn off its power or gas.
- Check the age. The manufacture date is on the label or coded in the serial number. At 10 to 15 years, replacement usually beats repair.
Water Heater Replacement Prices
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Like-for-like 40-gallon tank, gas or electric | $1,450 to $2,495 installed, heater included |
| Like-for-like 50-gallon tank, gas or electric | $1,650 to $2,820 installed, heater included |
| Existing tankless unit replaced with a new tankless unit | $1,930 to $2,900 labor plus the unit |
| Tank-to-tankless conversion, new gas line or fuel change | Outside our scope |
Tank prices include the heater, labor, supply line and drain reconnection and haul-away of the old unit. Line adjustments add $160 to $320 when needed. Permit requirements vary by city and we confirm them before starting. Details: water heater replacement.
Why January Is Water Heater Season
Indiana search interest in "no hot water" runs at 194 in January and 154 in February, against a yearly average of 100, and searches for water heaters stay above average from December through February. In our own Search Console data, "water heater replacement" and "water heater installation greenwood in" are among the searches the site appears for most. Replacing an aging tank in the fall or early winter is cheaper than finding the leak in the basement.
What We Do Not Do
Gas leaks, new gas lines, venting changes, tank-to-tankless conversions, fuel-type changes and new electrical circuits are outside our scope, and we are not an unscheduled emergency service. Nick's Handyman Service, LLC is a licensed general contractor, not a licensed plumbing or electrical contractor. Our plumbing and electrical work is repair and replacement on existing lines and circuits. We book Monday through Friday, 8 to 6, and Saturday, 9 to 2. Evenings, Sundays and other after-hours visits can be arranged ahead of time at a $225 minimum. We are not an unscheduled emergency service.
Common Questions
Why do I have no hot water in the winter?
Incoming water is coldest in January, so the heater has more work to do on every gallon. A tank with years of sediment, a failing element on an electric heater, or a burner problem on a gas heater shows up first in winter as lukewarm water or none at all. Check the breaker or the pilot first, then look at the age of the tank.
How do I know if my water heater needs to be replaced?
Most tank water heaters last 10 to 15 years. Replace it when the tank itself leaks (not just a fitting), the water comes out rusty or discolored, there is visible rust on the tank, or it is 12 or more years old and you need it to be reliable.
How much does it cost to replace a water heater in Indianapolis?
A like-for-like 40-gallon tank swap totals $1,450 to $2,495 installed and a 50-gallon swap $1,650 to $2,820, heater included. Replacing an existing tankless unit with a new one runs $1,930 to $2,900 labor plus the unit. See water heater replacement for details.
How long does a water heater replacement take?
Most like-for-like replacements are finished in a single visit.
Can you switch me from a tank to a tankless water heater?
No. Tank-to-tankless conversions need gas-line resizing and venting changes, which are outside our scope. We replace tanks with tanks and existing tankless units with new tankless units, on the existing lines.
I smell gas near the water heater. Should I call you?
No. Leave the house and call your gas utility's emergency line from outside. Gas leaks are not handyman work. Once the utility has made it safe, we can replace the heater on the existing line.
More Fall and Winter Work
Water Heater Service Area
We replace water heaters from our Greenwood shop across all 19 cities we serve.
Nick's Handyman Service, LLC · 1230 Dusty Trail, Greenwood, IN 46142 · (317) 893-3717 · nicholas@nhsindy.com
Last reviewed November 2026.
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