Decisions to make before installation day
Most delays and extra charges come from choices made late. Settle these first.
- Fuel.
Natural gas, propane, standard electric and heat pump electric each need different supply and venting. Gas availability at a specific address varies, so we confirm it on the visit.
- Location.
Basement, garage, closet or attic. Each affects drain access, vent path and what happens when the tank eventually leaks.
- Capacity.
Size by household and peak use, not by what was there. A remodel that adds a soaking tub changes the math.
- Heat pump needs.
A hybrid unit wants open airflow, a condensate drain and a space the manufacturer lists as suitable.
- Water source.
City supply or a private well changes the sediment and scale you should plan for.
- Timing.
A scheduled install can be coordinated with a remodel, drywall or an inspection.
Venting, combustion air and carbon monoxide
A gas or propane water heater burns fuel inside your house, so the flue must carry exhaust outside without leaks. Atmospheric-draft units rely on warm gas rising through a vent that slopes upward all the way. Power-vented and direct-vent models use a fan and a sealed path, and they allow more flexibility in where the heater sits.
Combustion air matters too. A tank in a tight utility closet can starve for air and backdraft exhaust into the room. We test draft after installation. If anyone in the house smells gas, leave the building and call Spire at 800-887-4173 or 911 before calling a plumber.
Expansion tanks, pressure and the relief valve
Water expands when it heats. In an open plumbing system the extra volume pushes back into the supply main, but many homes have a check valve, backflow device or pressure reducing valve that closes that path. Without somewhere to go, pressure climbs every heating cycle and can stress the tank, the fittings and the relief valve.
A small expansion tank on the cold line absorbs the swing. We check static pressure at the house and set the tank's air charge to match. The temperature and pressure relief valve also needs a full-size discharge pipe that terminates where it cannot scald anyone.
Planning a new heater?
Call with your fuel type, the room it will sit in and any remodel dates. We will plan the visit around them.
Tank, heat pump or tankless: install differences
The unit type changes the installation, not just the price tag.
| Unit | What the install needs | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Gas tank | Gas line, flue, combustion air, drain pan | Flue slope and draft |
| Electric tank | Dedicated 240 volt circuit, drain pan | Breaker and wire size |
| Heat pump (hybrid) | Circuit, airflow, condensate drain | Small closets and cold rooms |
| Tankless gas | Larger gas supply, special venting, condensate | Gas pipe sizing |
| Tankless electric | Very large circuit capacity | Panel space and wiring |
Specific minimum clearances, air volume and temperature ranges come from the manufacturer's installation manual.
Code and permits in Wildwood
The City of Wildwood has adopted the St. Louis County Plumbing Code (Chapter 1103, adopted 2019) as its plumbing code. The city's permit page lists new or replaced plumbing among work that needs a building permit, and it points to St. Louis County Public Works for details.
Permit rules vary, so ask the building department before a new installation. We install to code and can tell you what we see, but we do not decide the permit. Also verify that any plumber you hire is licensed. St. Louis County licenses plumbers through its Board of Plumbing Examiners in the Department of Transportation and Public Works.
New location or remodel: how plumbing overlaps
Moving a heater, adding a bathroom or finishing a basement involves new supply lines, drains and sometimes a gas branch. Those pieces overlap with our general plumbing installation work, so it helps to plan them together. Roughing in pipe before drywall is cheaper and tidier than cutting open a finished wall.
Wildwood's median home was built in 1992 according to the Census Bureau, and about 42.8 percent predate 1990. Homes from that period often have a heater in a basement or garage utility area. If you are relocating it, tell us now so we can check existing pipe sizes and shutoffs.
How a planned install goes
- 1
Site visit and sizing.
We look at the location, fuel supply, venting route and existing pipe, then confirm the unit type and capacity with you.
- 2
Clear price and schedule.
You get a written plan and price before work starts, and we coordinate the date around your remodel or inspector.
- 3
Rough-in and set.
New gas, water, drain, circuit or condensate lines go in first, then the heater is set level on a pan.
- 4
Commissioning.
We fill, purge, fire or energize the unit, set the temperature, check draft and verify the relief valve discharge.
Hard water and well water at the new heater
Missouri American Water supplies the city. Its 2023 report lists total hardness from 66 to 150 ppm at Meramec plants and 82 to 226 ppm at Missouri River plants. Homes west of Route 109 and some east of it are on private wells, where hardness and iron must be tested. Ask your utility for its annual water quality report, or test your tap.
Why it matters at installation: scale builds on elements and tank floors. Adding a flush valve and shutoffs now makes later maintenance easier, and a softener or filter can be piped in at the same visit.
What affects the price of a water heater installation
We do not list prices here. The scope of the job decides the bill, and you get a clear price before work starts.
Tank, heat pump and tankless models differ a great deal in equipment cost.
A new flue, a longer vent run or a larger gas line adds materials and labor.
Heat pump and electric tankless units may need a new circuit or a panel upgrade.
Moving a heater means new supply, drain and sometimes venting.
Any permit fee or inspection scheduling is set by the building department, not by us.
Planned installations are normally a homeowner expense and not an insurance claim. If you are replacing a unit damaged by a covered event, your policy and adjuster decide what is included.
To price your layout, call us to schedule a visit.
Nearby towns
We schedule installs across Wildwood and the surrounding area, including Chesterfield and Ballwin. If your existing unit has already failed, see water heater replacement instead.
Questions we hear in Wildwood, MO
A straightforward tank swap in an accessible spot is often a half-day job. New venting, relocations, circuit work and heat pump or tankless conversions take longer. We give you a realistic schedule once we have seen the space.
If your plumbing has a check valve, backflow device or pressure reducing valve, the system is likely closed and heated water needs room to expand. We check the pressure and say whether a tank is needed.
It depends on the type. Atmospheric units use a chimney or Type B vent that rises continuously. Power-vented and direct-vent models can run through a sidewall. The manufacturer's manual and the county plumbing code set the limits.
Permit rules vary, so ask the building department. The city page lists new or replaced plumbing among work needing a building permit. We cannot confirm what applies to your specific project.
St. Louis County licenses plumbers through its Board of Plumbing Examiners, part of the Department of Transportation and Public Works. Ask for a license and verify it with that office.
Leave the building and call Spire at 800-887-4173 or 911 from outside. Do not turn on lights or use appliances. Call a plumber once the utility has cleared the home.
Have a question this page did not answer? Call (855) 575-2890 at any hour and a dispatcher will talk it through.