Water Heater Replacement — Edgewater, MD
An Edgewater homeowner woke up to no hot water and a puddle under their 14-year-old water heater. We diagnosed a failed lower heating element and a corroded tank bottom — replacement was the right call. Same-day installation, back to hot water by 2 PM.
The Problem
A homeowner in Edgewater called us at 7:30 AM after waking up to cold water and finding a small puddle forming under their water heater. The unit was a 50-gallon electric tank installed in 2010 — 14 years old. They had noticed the water taking longer to heat over the past few months but hadn't called for service.
Our Diagnosis
We inspected the unit and found the lower heating element had failed completely. More critically, the tank bottom showed active corrosion and a pinhole leak forming at the base — the source of the puddle. At 14 years old with a corroded tank, repair was not a viable option. The anode rod had been fully consumed years earlier, allowing the tank interior to corrode unchecked. We recommended immediate replacement.
The Repair Process
- 1Shut off power and cold water supply to the failed unit
- 2Drained the 50-gallon tank fully before removal
- 3Disconnected electrical connections and removed the old unit
- 4Inspected the installation location — expansion tank was undersized and replaced
- 5Installed a new 50-gallon Rheem Performance Platinum electric water heater
- 6Installed a new properly-sized expansion tank per current code
- 7Reconnected electrical — verified correct 240V circuit and breaker amperage
- 8Filled tank, purged air from all hot water lines throughout the home
- 9Tested all hot water fixtures — confirmed full recovery and proper temperature
- 10Set thermostat to 120°F per EPA recommendation
The Outcome
The homeowner had hot water by 2:00 PM the same day. The new unit is significantly more energy-efficient than the 14-year-old model it replaced. We also replaced the undersized expansion tank that had been installed with the original unit — a code violation that the previous installer had missed. The homeowner now has a properly installed, code-compliant system with an 18-month labor warranty and a 6-year manufacturer warranty on the tank.
Key Takeaway
Water heaters over 10 years old with any signs of corrosion or leaking should be replaced, not repaired. A corroded tank bottom will fail completely — often flooding the surrounding area. Annual anode rod inspection extends tank life significantly.
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What Southern Maryland Homeowners Are Saying
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George Baker III
Annapolis, MD
May 2026
"We recently had Deep Dive Plumbing Maryland out to our home in Annapolis after we suddenly started noticing sewer flies throughout the house. They truly lived up to their name and performed a full "deep dive" diagnostic inspection instead of just treating the symptom. During their inspection they discovered our sewer pipe connected to the toilet had been leaking into the basement for quite some time. The team explained everything clearly, provided upfront pricing before starting any work, and even gave us a military discount which was greatly appreciated. They were professional, respectful, extremely knowledgeable, and took the time to make sure the repair was done correctly."
Angelis Reilly
Southern Maryland
June 2026
"TJ was great!! He answered our emergency call late evening hours. He was honest and gave us options to make a decision. Highly recommend!!"
Sally Ludwig
Dunkirk, MD
June 2026
"Great service with knowledgeable and neat professionals. Highly recommend! Deep Dive Plumbing helped with my bathroom project, including reinstalling a pedestal sink after new flooring was installed and addressing a toilet issue that had been causing constant clogs. The team was professional, courteous, and took the time to make sure everything was completed correctly. Their attention to detail and cleanliness really stood out. I am very happy with the results and would not hesitate to call them again."
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