How the hotline works
- Call (888) 907-9511 — the water heater hotline. A dead heater, a leak, no hot water: we route an installer.
- Installer arrives and diagnoses — confirms the unit needs replacement (like-for-like swap).
- You get a proposal link by text — scope of work plus the $125 permit filing. City permit fees are separate and always paid by you, never us.
- Tap Approve on your phone — one tap, timestamped. No paperwork, no printer.
- Permit filed on the spot — the installer opens PermitsPros on their phone and files the water heater permit before or during the install. Filed same-day.
- One inspection — we schedule it; the inspector checks venting, seismic straps, the T&P drain, and the shutoff valve. Pass the first time with the checklist below.
Pricing
City permit fees are separate and paid by the client (owner, HOA, or insurer) directly to the city. We never front city fees and never add surprise charges. Filing is not approval or issuance — no one can promise those.
For installers
File a water heater permit from the job site in about three minutes — big buttons, camera-first photos, works one-handed.
- Address + unit, with location assist
- Three photos: old unit, data plate, install location
- Your name + license number, pay $125, filed
Need the owner or HOA to approve first? Generate a proposal link below and text it to them.
For property managers, HOAs & insurers
One hotline number for every dead heater across the portfolio. Approve proposals from your phone; we handle the filing and the inspection.
- Proposal links for fast approvals
- 10+ properties? Bulk filing at /bulk/ — 10% off
- One inspection per swap, scheduled for you
Generate a proposal link
Installers: fill this in at the job site, then text the link to whoever approves — owner, HOA, or insurer. They tap Approve; you get the green light to file.
The one inspection — pass it first time
Like-for-like water heater swaps typically need a single final inspection in most California cities. Here's what the inspector checks:
- Venting — draft hood seated, vent connector secure and properly sloped
- Seismic strapping — two straps, in the upper and lower third of the tank
- T&P relief valve — with a drain line run to an approved termination
- Shutoff valve — working cold-water shutoff at the unit
Requirements vary by city — this covers what most California inspectors check on a straight swap.
Questions
Is it really just one inspection?
Typically, yes — a like-for-like water heater swap gets a single final inspection in most California cities. Some jurisdictions differ, and we'll tell you upfront if yours does.Filed same-day; city fees separate; we never promise approval or inspection outcomes.
How fast is the permit filed?
Same day — the installer files from the job site before or during the install. You don't wait for an office to open.Filed same-day; city fees separate; we never promise approval or issuance timelines.
Who pays the city permit fee?
The client — the property owner, HOA, or insurer — pays the city's fee directly to the city. Our $125 covers the filing service only. We never front city fees.Filed same-day; city fees separate; we never promise approval.
What if it's not like-for-like — say, tank to tankless?
That's a different permit path (often mechanical/electrical scope). Call the hotline and we'll quote it in writing before anything is filed.Filed same-day; city fees separate; we never promise approval.
Do I need to be home for the inspection?
Someone 18 or older needs to give the inspector access to the unit. We'll schedule it with you.Filed same-day; city fees separate; we never promise inspection outcomes.