Before you hire anyone for water heater repair and replacement in Brea

Ask for the contractor's CSLB license number and look it up at cslb.ca.gov. Check that the license is active and that its classification covers plumbing work.

Ask whether the company's own employees or subcontractors will come out, and get the name of the licensed contractor responsible for the job.

Get the price in writing before work starts, and ask what it includes: removal of the old tank, straps, permit, expansion tank and any changes to venting or the gas line.

Water heaters come with a manufacturer's warranty, and installers may offer their own on labor. Ask for both in writing and keep the paperwork with a photo of the heater's label.

Keep the water supply and the heater off, keep people away from hot water, and if there is any gas smell, leave and call 911 or SoCalGas from outside.

A leak indoors can damage floors and walls quickly. Shut off the cold-water valve or the main, move belongings out of the way, and ask whether a drain pan and drain line are part of the job.