Start with the permit question
The City of Bothell Permit Center says replacing a water heater requires a permit. A permit means the work is inspected, which protects you and any future buyer. Skipping it can cause trouble with insurance and at sale.
Rules about who may do the work differ for owners and contractors, and they can change. Call the Permit Center and ask what applies to your address. We do not give a general answer here because the correct one is specific to your situation.
What a correct install includes
A water heater is more than two pipes and a plug. A code-compliant install usually includes these items.
- A shutoff valve on the cold supply
- A temperature and pressure relief valve with a discharge pipe routed to a safe place
- Seismic strapping to the wall, which matters in Western Washington
- An expansion tank where required
- Correct venting and combustion air for a gas unit
- A gas shutoff and a proper gas connection
- A drain pan or drain line where required
Where DIY installs go wrong
| Mistake | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Wrong vent size or slope on a gas unit | Exhaust gas, including carbon monoxide, can enter the house |
| Gas leak at a fitting | Fire and explosion risk |
| Relief valve capped or undersized | The tank can build dangerous pressure |
| No strapping | The tank can fall in an earthquake |
| Wrong electrical connection on an electric unit | Shock and fire risk |
Prefer a professional install?
Call and we will schedule a visit and give a clear price before work starts.
The gas and carbon monoxide risk
Gas water heaters burn fuel and vent exhaust outside. A poor vent connection or a leaking gas fitting can make a home dangerous without any obvious sign. Carbon monoxide has no smell.
If you do any gas work, use a carbon monoxide alarm and have the work inspected. If you ever smell gas, leave the house and call 911 and your gas utility from outside. Do not try to fix it yourself.
Electric units are not risk free
Electric heaters need the right breaker, wire size and a safe connection. Water and live power are a poor combination if something is wrong. Turn off the breaker and confirm there is no power before you touch any wire.
If you are not sure, hire a licensed electrician or a plumber who handles that part.
What to do if you decide to hire a pro
If you decide to use a contractor, check the registration and insurance on the state lookup. Ask whether the price includes the permit, the new valves and strapping, the expansion tank if needed and removal of the old unit.
Ask who is on site and who pulls the permit. A written price and a permit copy at the end of the job are normal.
A safe approach if you only want to swap the unit
If the Permit Center confirms you may do the work, take your time. Turn off the gas or breaker and water, drain the old tank, disconnect with the right tools and test every gas joint for leaks with approved solution. Never use a flame to look for a gas leak.
Have the inspection done. It is a second pair of eyes on a system that can hurt people if it is wrong.
Before you start any water heater job
- Call the Permit Center and ask what applies
- Confirm the new unit fits the space and the vent
- Shut off water and gas or power
- Plan for hauling away the old tank
- Get a carbon monoxide alarm if the unit is gas
- Schedule the inspection
Checking with Bothell and the state
The Permit Center can tell you whether a permit is needed and what inspections apply. The state Department of Labor and Industries has a lookup tool at lni.wa.gov/verify for checking a contractor, and it can answer licensing questions. The Washington plumbing code is based on the Uniform Plumbing Code with state amendments.
Bothell Municipal Code exempts some work, such as repairing leaks, but exemptions do not authorize code violations. If your tank has failed, see water heater replacement, and for a planned swap see water heater installation. We serve Kenmore and nearby towns on our service areas page.
Washington adopts the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) with state amendments in WAC 51-56, and the permit inspection is where relief valve, strapping and venting work gets checked.
Installing your own water heater questions
The City of Bothell Permit Center says replacing a water heater requires a permit. Call the Permit Center to confirm what applies to your address.
Rules vary and depend on the work and who does it. Ask the Bothell Permit Center and the state Department of Labor and Industries. We do not give a blanket answer.
It removes the gas and venting risk, but it adds electrical risk. Both need care.
It might. An unpermitted install can complicate a claim. Check with your insurer.
Use two straps on the upper and lower thirds of the tank, anchored into wall studs, following the manufacturer and code instructions.
Drain it, disconnect it and arrange removal. Some haulers and recyclers take old heaters.