Water supply is the first question we ask on a Fircrest job. The City of Fircrest runs its own water system from city wells, with an emergency intertie to Tacoma Water. It is one of the few small cities in the area with its own groundwater supply. At about 35 minutes from Port Orchard, over the Narrows Bridge and a few minutes down Highway 16 to the Orchard Street exit from Port Orchard, Fircrest is a regular line on our schedule, not a special trip.
Why water heater installation & replacement is a little different in Fircrest
Most Fircrest homes on municipal water have a pressure reducing valve or a backflow device at the meter, which makes a thermal expansion tank a code requirement. We include and size it for every installation.
Sewer versus septic is the next question. City sewer. Fircrest collects wastewater and pumps it to the City of Tacoma's system for treatment. There is no septic in Fircrest.
Local conditions that affect water heater installation & replacement in Fircrest
Local conditions shape the work. In Fircrest: Basement floor drains and old laundry standpipes backing up
For Fircrest landlords, a planned replacement before a tenant turnover avoids an emergency call later. We schedule around the vacancy, install to code and send the permit record and photos to the owner.
In Fircrest specifically, one issue comes up more than most: Water heaters in original utility rooms and basements aging out
Well water in parts of Fircrest carries sediment that shortens a tank heater's life. A sediment filter ahead of the new heater, and a reminder to flush it yearly, can add years to the replacement we install.
Signs Fircrest homeowners call us for water heater installation & replacement
Worth a call
- A new tub, addition or ADU has outgrown the current tank
- The heater has no seismic straps, pan or expansion tank
- You are preparing a home for sale or a rental for tenants
- The heater shares a flue with a furnace that was replaced by a heat pump
- Loud rumbling that flushing no longer cures
How we handle water heater installation & replacement in Fircrest
When a Fircrest homeowner books water heater installation & replacement, the job unfolds as size and fuel on the phone, measure and confirm access, remove and set the new heater, fuel, vent and fill, then test and walk through, and you can watch and ask questions the whole way.
Read the full step-by-step for water heater installation & replacement →
Fircrest neighborhoods and areas we serve
We have worked in Emerson and Alameda, in Fircrest Golf Club area and most of the Fircrest neighborhoods in between, including the homes out by Regents Boulevard median and Thelma Gilmur Park.
Water Heater Installation & Replacement questions from Fircrest
Can you install a gas water heater in Fircrest if I have propane?
Yes. Propane models are available from the brands we install, and we set up the regulator and drip leg correctly for propane.
Will you take away the old water heater from my Fircrest house?
Yes. Haul-away and recycling are included in the flat price.
Is an expansion tank required for my Fircrest water heater?
If your home has a pressure reducing valve or a backflow device, which most Fircrest homes on municipal water do, yes. We include it.
How quickly can you replace a water heater in Fircrest?
Often the same day or the next for a standard unit, since we stock common sizes. Special models or relocations take a little longer, and we tell you the schedule when we quote.
What brands do you install?
Bradford White and A. O. Smith for tank heaters. Both are well built, have parts available locally and honor their warranties. We can install another brand if you have a specific reason, but those two are what we trust.
Washington Plumbing & Drain serves Fircrest from our base in Port Orchard, a reasonable drive over Highway 16. We schedule Pierce County work in clusters so arrival windows stay honest.