Field guide for Burlington owners
Owning vs Renting a Water Heater
Many Burlington homes still rent the tank in the basement, often under a contract the current owners inherited. Before buying it out or switching, it helps to know what the contract actually says.
- Steps you can safely take yourself
- What it looks like in Burlington houses
- When to put the wrench down and phone us
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The short answer
Renting spreads the cost of a water heater over monthly payments and usually includes repairs. Owning means a larger upfront cost but no rental charge after that. Which is cheaper depends on how long you keep the unit, what the monthly fee is and what the contract requires to end it. Over a typical tank's working life, many owners find that monthly rent eventually exceeds what an owned heater would have cost installed, but the figures in your own agreement are what count.
Key point
Many Burlington homes still rent the tank in the basement, often under a contract the current owners inherited.
Step by step
- Find the contract. Check your closing documents if you bought the house; rental agreements are often assumed by the buyer. If you cannot find it, phone the firm whose label is on the tank and request a copy.
- Read the buyout terms. Most agreements include a buyout schedule that drops as the tank ages. Note the current figure and any removal charges.
- Note the age of the tank. Its serial number typically hides the manufacturing date. Our guide to water heater lifespan explains what a given age means.
- Compare options. Keep renting, buy out the current tank, or return it and install a heater you own.
- Arrange the return properly. If you are replacing a rented tank, contact the rental company about pickup and confirm in writing when billing stops.
Have this ready when you call
- Which fixture, which floor
- Whether the main is closed
- Rough age of the house and heater
- Any past floods or drain work
What to check before leaving a rental
- Whether there is a minimum term or early termination charge.
- Who must remove the old tank, and whether there is a fee.
- Whether the rental company requires a specific return process or packaging.
- If a lien or security notice relates to the equipment, how it will be cleared.
Ontario tightened consumer protection rules in 2018, including a ban on most unsolicited door-to-door contracts for water heaters. If a salesperson shows up offering to swap your tank, you are not obliged to sign anything at the door.
First move in a leak
Close the main shut-off, open a low tap to drain pressure, then call (365) 464-5184.
The moment to phone us
Once you decide to own, a plumber can size a replacement, explain tank versus tankless and handle the installation. Our pages on swapping a gas tank and electric water heater installation describe the work. If the tank is leaking now, close the cold water valve on top, set the gas knob to pilot (or flip the breaker on an electric unit), and phone us. For rented tanks, the rental company should be your first call for repairs, since service is usually part of the agreement.
Burlington specifics
Water heater rentals have been common in southern Ontario for decades, and houses across Burlington, from Brant Hills split-levels to Appleby bungalows, often came with one. Burlington's moderately hard lake water adds sediment to tanks, which shortens their life if they are never flushed. Our hard water guide covers how that plays out.
If you are thinking of going tankless, read tank versus tankless before you end a rental, since the gas line and venting change the cost picture.
Questions we hear
Can I just buy out my rented water heater?
Most contracts allow a buyout at a price set by a schedule in the agreement. Ask the rental company for the current figure.
Who pays to remove a rented tank?
The contract decides. Some companies collect it at no charge; others charge a removal fee. Read the terms before booking a replacement.