40-Gallon AO Smith Electric Water Heater Installed
This residential electric tank water heater is a practical replacement option for many smaller to medium-sized households that need reliable hot water for showers, laundry, dishwashing, and everyday use.
A 40-gallon electric water heater is commonly suitable for households with approximately two to four occupants. Actual hot-water needs depend on the number of residents, plumbing fixtures, bathing habits, appliance usage, available electrical service, and periods of peak hot-water demand.
Modern Plumbing provides professional electric water heater replacement and installation throughout Inverness and Citrus County, Florida.
Flat rate water heater replacement in Citrus County
40 gallon A. O. Smith ProLine electric water heater installed
The right size for most two to four person households. We supply the heater and the connections, install it, test it, and haul the old tank out of your garage. One price, quoted before we start.
- Family owned since 1978
- Three generations of plumbers
- No commission based technicians
- Itemized invoices
- A. O. Smith certified water heater technician
- License #CFC1431599
What the $1,525 covers
A like for like replacement of a standard 40 gallon electric tank water heater at ground level, in Inverness, Crystal River, Homosassa, Lecanto, Hernando, Floral City, Citrus Springs, Beverly Hills, and the surrounding Citrus County communities.
Parts we supply
- One A. O. Smith ProLine 40 gallon electric water heater, tall or short
- Standard water and electrical connectors
- Standard plumbing fittings for the hot, cold, and relief connections
Work we perform
- $55 service call and up to four hours of labor
- Drain, disconnect, and remove the old heater
- Set the new tank and connect the hot, cold, and relief piping
- Reconnect to the existing 240 volt circuit
- Refill, purge the air, and check every connection for leaks
- Bring the tank up to temperature and confirm it is heating
- Haul away and dispose of the old water heater
About the expansion tank. If your home is on county or city water, code requires a thermal expansion tank with a new water heater. It is not part of this flat rate. We check which water supply you have when we call to verify your order, and if you need one we give you the price then, before your appointment, rather than bringing it up at the truck.
Our 50 gallon package includes the expansion tank and a new shutoff valve, so if you are on city or county water it is worth comparing the two before you order.
Do you need 40 gallons or 50?
Forty gallons fits most households of two to four people with one or two bathrooms. What matters more than headcount is peak demand, meaning how much hot water gets used at once. Two showers back to back plus the dishwasher is where a 40 shows its limits.
- Stick with 40 if your current 40 has never run you short, or if it is one or two people in the house
- Step up to 50 if you regularly run out, if the household has grown, or if you added a soaking tub or a second bathroom
- The honest answer for most people replacing a working 40 is that 40 is fine. We are not going to talk you into a bigger tank you do not need
Still weighing electric against tankless or hybrid? Our guide on how to choose a water heater walks through the trade offs for Citrus County homes.
Tall or short, and how to tell which you need
Both hold 40 gallons. The difference is the shape, and the right one is almost always whichever one already fits the space.
Tall
61.25 inches high by 18 inches wideThe common one, and the narrowest tank we install. It fits closets a 50 gallon will not.
Short or medium
49.75 inches high by 20.5 inches wideSame capacity in a shorter, wider tank. For closets with a shelf overhead, low ceilings, or tight cabinet spaces.
Not sure? Measure the height of the space, then send a photo of your current heater and the label on its side to [email protected], or call (352) 726-5601. We will tell you which one to order. Lowboy and shelf models are a different tank and are not covered by this price, so send a photo if yours sits under a counter or on a wall shelf.
Mobile and manufactured homes
The 40 gallon is the tank we set most often in mobile homes around Citrus County, partly because the tall model is only 18 inches wide. A. O. Smith's residential electric heaters are built to HUD standards and approved for manufactured housing, so the ProLine is a proper fit rather than a workaround.
Manufactured home water heater closets do come with their own quirks, and access is the usual one. If yours is in a tight closet or the old tank has to come out through a doorway that barely clears it, call us before ordering online and we will look at it. Our mobile home plumbing page covers what else we handle in these homes.
Signs it is time to replace, not repair
Most electric water heaters in Citrus County give you somewhere around eight to twelve years. Our hard water is not kind to them. Once a tank starts showing these, a repair is usually money spent on borrowed time:
- Water on the floor around the base, or rust and corrosion at the tank seams
- Hot water runs out noticeably faster than it used to
- Rust colored or cloudy hot water at the tap
- Popping or rumbling from inside the tank, which is sediment cooking on the bottom
- Elements failing again after you already replaced one
- The tank is past ten years old and you would rather choose the day it gets replaced than have it choose for you
If yours is only a few years old and acting up, it may be an element, a thermostat, or a sediment issue rather than the tank. Our water heater FAQ covers the repair or replace question in more detail, and we are happy to look before you buy anything.
How the appointment works
- You order onlinePay the flat rate through our online store and pick tall or short, any time of day.
- We call to verifySomeone from our office calls to confirm the size, the location, the electrical setup, and whether you are on city, county, or well water before anything is scheduled.
- We schedule around youMonday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, normally within one to four business days.
- We install and testPlan on roughly two to four hours. The tank takes another hour or so to come fully up to temperature after we leave.
- Old heater leaves with usNo dragging a tank full of water out to the curb.
Water heater details
| Brand and model | A. O. Smith ProLine ENT-40 tall or ENS-40 short |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 40 gallons nominal |
| First hour rating | 53 gallons on the tall, 55 on the short |
| Recovery | About 21 gallons per hour at a 90 degree rise |
| Heating elements | Dual 4,500 watt, 240 volt, non simultaneous |
| Tank protection | Blue Diamond glass lining, stainless steel CoreGard anode rod, DynaClean sediment reduction |
| Drain valve | Solid brass, not plastic |
| Water connections | 3/4 inch NPT, top connect |
| Sizes available | Tall 61.25 by 18 inches, short or medium 49.75 by 20.5 inches |
| Manufactured housing | HUD compliant, approved for mobile homes |
| Manufacturer warranty | 6 year limited tank and parts warranty from A. O. Smith |
| Installed price | $1,525 flat rate |
| Our warranty | One year Modern Plumbing workmanship warranty |
Why we install the ProLine and not the box store model
A. O. Smith builds two different families of water heater. The ProLine goes to plumbing supply houses and licensed contractors. The Signature Series goes on the shelf at the big box store for homeowners to carry out themselves. Same brand on the label, different tank underneath.
ProLine, what we install
- Sold through professional supply channels, not retail
- Commercial grade heating elements
- Brass drain valve
- Built for daily household demand and a longer service life
- Warranty handled through professional channels
Retail Signature Series
- Built for do it yourself installation
- Lighter duty components to hold the retail price down
- Plastic drain valve on most models
- Usually means hiring a separate installer anyway
- Warranty claims run back through the store
Curtis is an A. O. Smith certified residential water heater technician, and we have been installing these tanks in Citrus County homes long enough to know which ones we get called back to. We wrote the whole comparison up in AO Smith ProLine vs Lowe's Signature Series if you want the detail before you decide.
The part that matters most on install day: buy the tank at the store and the warranty covers the tank only, with the labor on you. Buy it installed by us and you get the A. O. Smith 6 year limited tank and parts warranty plus our own one year Modern Plumbing workmanship warranty on the installation. One company to call either way.
Common questions about water heater replacement
Is 40 gallons enough for my house?
Forty gallons suits most two to four person households with one or two bathrooms. Peak demand matters more than headcount, meaning how much hot water gets used at once. The tall model has a 53 gallon first hour rating, which is what it delivers in the first hour starting from a full, hot tank. If your current 40 has never run you short, a new 40 will not either.
Should I get a tall or short 40 gallon water heater?
Whichever fits your space. The tall is 61.25 inches by 18 inches, the short or medium is 49.75 inches by 20.5 inches, and both hold 40 gallons. The tall 40 is the narrowest tank we install, so it fits closets a 50 gallon will not. Measure your available height, including anything mounted above the heater.
Do I need a thermal expansion tank?
If your home is on county or city water, code requires one with a new water heater, and it is not included in this flat rate. Water expands as it heats, and on a closed system that pressure has nowhere to go, so it pushes back against the tank, the relief valve, and your fixtures. Homes on a private well are usually an open system and often do not need one. We confirm which you have when we call and price it then, not on the day of the install.
Will a 40 gallon ProLine work in a mobile home?
Yes. A. O. Smith's residential electric water heaters are built to HUD standards and approved for manufactured housing, and the tall 40 is only 18 inches wide, which suits most mobile home water heater closets. Access is the thing to check. If the closet is tight or the old tank barely clears the doorway, call us before ordering online.
Is the ProLine different from the A. O. Smith at Lowe's?
Yes. The ProLine is sold through plumbing supply houses to licensed contractors and uses commercial grade heating elements and a brass drain valve. The Signature Series sold at retail is built for do it yourself installation with lighter duty components to keep the shelf price down. Same brand, different build. Our full comparison is in AO Smith ProLine vs Lowe's Signature Series.
Do I need an electrician too?
Not for a standard swap. We reconnect the new heater to your existing 240 volt circuit. If the wiring, breaker, or disconnect is undersized, damaged, or not to code, that is electrical work outside our license, and we will tell you what we found and who can handle it.
How long does the installation take?
Roughly two to four hours for a standard ground level replacement, including draining the old tank. After we leave, give it about an hour to come fully up to temperature before you count on a hot shower.
What if my heater is in the attic or a crawlspace?
This flat rate covers ground level, accessible installations. Attic, crawlspace, stair access, and tight access jobs take longer and sometimes take two people, so we price those individually. Call us and we will quote it honestly rather than surprising you on the day.
Do you take the old water heater away?
Yes. Removal and disposal of one existing standard water heater is included in the $1,525.
What if I live outside Citrus County?
We still come. There is a small additional service call charge for the extra travel outside our standard Citrus County service area. Call us and we will tell you what it comes to for your address before you order.
Standard conditions and what is not included
We would rather be upfront than surprise you on the invoice. The $1,525 assumes a like for like replacement of one standard 40 gallon electric tank heater at ground level, in an accessible spot, during regular business hours, inside our Citrus County service area. The site needs a compatible 240 volt circuit, a working shutoff, and serviceable drain and relief piping. The booked scope has to match the photos and details you give us.
Not included unless we quote it separately:
- Thermal expansion tank
- Drain pan or leak alarm
- Lowboy or shelf model heaters
- Electrical wiring, breaker, disconnect, or panel upgrades
- Any work requiring a licensed electrician
- Relocating the water heater
- Attic, crawlspace, or stair access installations
- Extensive plumbing modifications or piping relocation
- Replacing damaged, corroded, or noncompliant piping
- A new platform, stand, or enclosure
- Concrete, drywall, cabinet, flooring, or wall repairs
- Pressure reducing valve repair or replacement
- Recirculation pump work
- Water treatment or filtration equipment
- Gas, tankless, or hybrid heat pump conversions
- Unrelated plumbing or electrical code corrections
- Permit and inspection fees
High water pressure is the other thing worth mentioning. Pressure above roughly 80 psi shortens the life of a new tank and everything else in the house. If we find the pressure high or the pressure reducing valve failed, we will show you the reading and give you the price before doing anything.
Warranty coverage does not extend to damage from excessive water pressure, thermal expansion, electrical problems, sediment, water quality, freezing, flooding, misuse, lack of maintenance, unauthorized repairs, or plumbing outside the work we performed.
Out of hot water?
Need help with your plumbing? Call Modern Plumbing Services at (352) 726-5601 or schedule online anytime.
Call (352) 726-5601
Modern Plumbing Services
Serving Citrus County since 1978
License #CFC1431599
(352) 726-5601 | www.citruscountyplumbers.com
