Start with conditions, not a product
Sizing a replacement means weighing household demand, fuel type, and venting against the unit that's actually failing—not just swapping in the same model.
Build a complete scope
- Tank versus tankless for the household's demand
- Venting, fuel, and electrical capacity on site
- Drainage and overflow protection for the location
- Permits where the town requires them
- What's excluded and how the warranty works
Mount Pleasant context
Humid, salt-tinged air and the enclosed spaces typical of raised foundations both shorten the practical service life of a tank here compared with a drier inland climate.