Will Enercare pay my plumber if I call one first?

Do not count on it. The rental covers repairs the company does itself, and a plumber you hire is normally your own cost. Call the rental company's service line first, and only hire your own plumber for work on your own pipes.

Is a leaking water heater an emergency?

A tank leaking from its body will not stop and can fail suddenly, so treat it as urgent. Close the cold water supply to the tank, switch the gas control to off or pilot, or turn off the breaker for an electric tank, and keep the floor drain clear. A drip from the relief valve discharge pipe is less urgent but still needs a look.

Does replacing a water heater need a permit in Ontario?

Rules vary by town. Toronto lists installing a hot water tank in a house among work that does not need a building permit; in other towns, check with the building department before you book. The gas connection must be done by a TSSA-certified technician either way.

Can a handyman replace a water heater?

No. A water heater replacement involves the water piping, which is compulsory 306A plumbing work, and for gas models the gas line and venting, which only a TSSA-certified gas technician may do. Ask for both certificates before work starts.

Water heater problem: call a plumber, gas tech or rental company?

If your Ontario water heater is rented, the rental company repairs it. If you own it, a plumber handles water and a TSSA gas technician handles gas.

Ontario's rental water heater market is unusual: for decades, tanks were installed on monthly rental in new and existing homes, and many homeowners inherit one when they buy a house. That changes who you call, and it changes who pays.

How do I know if my water heater is rented?

Check three places. Look on the tank for a rental company's label or asset tag. Look at your bills: Enercare now bills customers directly and lists rental equipment on its bill, and older Enbridge Gas bills carried rental charges until Enbridge ended that billing in November 2024. If you bought the house recently, check the purchase agreement, which normally lists rental contracts the buyer assumes. If you are still unsure, call the companies with your address.

Water heater problems: who to call in Ontario
Problem	Rented tank	Owned tank	Licence needed	Why
Water leaking from the tank or the bottom	Rental company	Plumber (usually replacement)	306A plumber; TSSA gas tech to disconnect gas	A leaking tank body cannot be repaired
Leak at a pipe fitting or the relief valve	Rental company	Plumber	306A Certificate of Qualification	Water piping and valves
No hot water, gas tank, pilot out	Rental company	TSSA gas technician	TSSA G2 (or G1) certificate, registered contractor	Gas appliance work
Gas smell near the tank	Enbridge Gas or 911, from outside	Enbridge Gas or 911, from outside	Not a repair call	Possible gas leak
No hot water, electric tank	Rental company	Plumber, plus an electrician if the circuit is the fault	306A; LEC for wiring	Elements and thermostats are part of the heater; the circuit is electrical
Replacing an owned tank	Not applicable	Plumber, and a TSSA technician for gas models	306A and TSSA	Water, venting and gas connections

My rented tank is leaking. Should I call a plumber?

Call the rental company first. Enercare and Reliance both say repairs are included in the monthly rental for the life of the unit, and Reliance says that covers parts and labour. A plumber you hire yourself is at your own cost, and the company is not obliged to reimburse it. While you wait, close the cold water valve on the pipe entering the top of the tank, and for a gas tank turn the gas control to pilot or off.

Plumber or HVAC for a hot water tank I own?

It depends on the part. Water leaks, the temperature and pressure relief valve and the pipe connections are plumbing work for a 306A plumber. The burner, pilot, thermocouple, gas valve and venting of a gas water heater are gas work, which Ontario's Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) rules reserve for certified gas technicians employed by a registered fuels contractor. Many heating companies and some plumbing firms have both on staff, so ask which certificate the technician who comes will hold.

Can I get out of a water heater rental?

Usually, by buying the tank out or returning it under the terms of your agreement; read the contract for the buyout schedule and any removal fee. Two Ontario rules protect you. Since March 1, 2018, businesses may not sign you up for a water heater at your door unless you invited them first, with a 10-day cooling-off period. And since June 6, 2024, companies can no longer register a notice of security interest (NOSI) on your home's title for consumer goods such as a water heater. For a disputed contract, contact Consumer Protection Ontario or a lawyer.

What does Doyo do here?

A rented tank goes back to the rental company. For a tank you own, describe the problem to the Doyo agent with a photo of the rating label; it identifies whether the job is plumbing or gas, and plumbers on Doyo hold a 306A certificate that Doyo has checked.

Questions people ask

The rental company, under a standard rental. Enercare and Reliance both include repairs in the monthly rental for the life of the unit. Read your own agreement, and call the company before you hire anyone else.

Describe your water heater problem to the Doyo agentStart

Sources

Enercare — Water heater support (rental repairs) · enercare.ca
Reliance Home Comfort — Water heater rentals · reliancehomecomfort.com
Enbridge Gas — Understanding your bill (third-party charges ended Nov 2024) · enbridgegas.com
Ontario — Door-to-door sales and home service contracts · ontario.ca
TSSA — Consumer safety (registered fuels contractors) · tssa.org
Enbridge Gas — If you smell gas · enbridgegas.com