Homeowners can often cut their energy bills by upgrading to a heat pump water heater, which uses ambient heat far more efficiently than a standard electric-resistance model. 

But for one renter in Montgomery County, Maryland, a landlord's switch to an electric unit reportedly turned into a nightmare involving repeated leaks, water dripping onto exposed electrical, and a city process that ultimately uncovered an illegal rental.

Here's what to know

According to a post on Reddit's r/AskElectricians, the renter said their landlords replaced a gas water heater with an electric model, after which several safety issues emerged.

Among the problems described, the tenant said the old gas line wasn't properly secured when the previous heater was removed, prompting the fire department to respond. They also said the replacement unit "has already leaked three times."

When asked whether the installation appeared to meet code, the renter said, "there was water dripping on exposed electrical at one point," and pointed to wiring near the breaker box as another concern. One commenter responded: "It's not up to code."

As evidence, that commenter said "the most obvious part" was that "there is no staple securing the new wire within 12 inches of the box" and told the renter to "call code enforcement through the city/county."

The original poster said they had already started down that road. "I have already been calling for two weeks, and they are refusing to send someone out, claiming it's an owner-occupied group home and they can't," the renter wrote, describing the process as "rough."

More background

Other commenters pointed to additional problems beyond the missing staple. Another commenter said, "There's a number of things about it that are not correct," including "10 gauge Romex stapled on the underside of the floor joists unprotected" rather than a better-protected setup.

That same commenter also raised concerns about how the heat pump water heater itself was installed. They also said the setup seemed to send both the condensate line and the emergency relief into "a shared drain," adding that the relief line would typically need to be "daylighted."

The commenter further questioned the cramped closet location, saying a heat pump water heater needs enough surrounding air space to avoid drawing its own exhaust back into the system.

Renters often have little control over repairs, inspections, or the quality of contractor work. Across the country, tenants have also described landlords blocking money-saving lifestyle changes such as gardening or hanging clotheslines to dry laundry.

Here, the tenant said they were stuck dealing with repeated leaks, worries about boiler upkeep, and electrical issues outside their control.

What can be done?

People in the thread repeatedly told the renter to pursue Montgomery County code enforcement. The renter said the process was finally advancing: "I reported it weeks ago, and finally someone is coming out … When I reported it, it turns out they have an illegal rental, so the city is making them register the property before they are sending an inspector," the poster wrote.

For homeowners planning a water-heater upgrade, Cala makes customizable smart heat pump water heaters that can help them lower energy bills by heating water exactly when they need it. In a project where installation quality clearly matters, smart options from Cala highlight how much homeowners can gain from a more deliberate approach.

Where can I learn more?

Tenants dealing with unsafe water-heater work and landlord neglect have run into similar problems in other rentals. 

• A renter shared a botched fix for a water heater, prompting alarm over dangerous unlicensed work.

• In one rental home, an unpatched leak left a tenant fighting an astronomical water bill.

• Another renter said a persistent water leak ended with a landlord sending a monstrous bill.

• A tenant warned that a carbon monoxide leak from a fireplace drew an absurd landlord response.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.