What should I do if the water heater is leaking?
Water pooling around the tank is a call, not a form: (416) 888-1371, any hour. If water is spreading and you cannot stop it, close the main water valve. The City of Toronto says it is usually on the foundation wall where the water pipe enters the home, just before the water meter (City of Toronto).
If you smell gas near a gas water heater, leave. Enbridge Gas says to get out right away, leaving doors and windows open behind you if you can do it without delay, and to call 1-866-763-5427 or 911 once you are safely away (Enbridge Gas).
What will the request form ask about my water heater?
Four quick questions, all optional. They help us price it and bring the right parts.
| Question | The choices |
|---|---|
| What kind? | Gas tank · Electric tank · Tankless · Not sure |
| Owned or rented? | Owned · Rented · Not sure |
| How old is it? | Under 5 years · 5 to 10 years · Over 10 years · Not sure |
| What is it doing? | No hot water · Not enough hot water · Leaking · Noisy · It works, I want a new one |
Photos that help. The most useful are the label on the tank (it shows the model and size), the whole tank, and the pipes and vent on top.
The form asks whether the tank is owned or rented because a rented tank belongs to the rental company, not to you. If you are not sure, the monthly charge on a utility or rental bill is the usual clue.
What does a typical water heater installation look like?
The drawing shows the parts we look at on every tank: the cold water shutoff, the expansion tank, the hot outlet, the vent, the temperature and pressure relief valve with its discharge line to a floor drain, and, on a gas tank, the gas shutoff and drip leg. When you send photos, those are the parts worth getting in the frame.
Which rules apply to a gas water heater in Ontario?
A gas water heater is a fuel-burning appliance, and three provincial rules follow from that.
- Who may work on it. The TSSA, Ontario's fuels safety regulator, says maintenance of furnaces and fuel-fired appliances must be performed by TSSA-registered contractors, who must hire TSSA-certified gas technicians (TSSA). More in who can work on gas appliances.
- A carbon monoxide alarm. The Government of Ontario says a home with a fuel-burning appliance needs one, beside each sleeping area and, since January 1, 2026, on every storey (Government of Ontario). See the carbon monoxide alarm guide.
- A yearly inspection. The same page asks owners to have fuel-burning appliances, chimneys and vents cleaned and inspected by professionals every year.
Repair or replace?
That depends on the tank, its age and what failed, which is why the form asks how old it is and what it is doing. Jackman Mechanical prices each job directly with you; no prices are published on this site. If you already want a new heater, choose "A quote to replace or install" on the form.