The tank leaks or quits, the homeowner calls the first plumber who answers, and there's no time to compare options or upsell to tankless.
Plumbing play · Water heaters
Water heater replacement leads from homes where the tank is past 10 years.
Most water heaters get replaced the morning they leak or run cold, and the homeowner calls whoever answers first. Spur finds owner-occupied homes where the tank is likely past its normal life, sends a replacement or tankless upgrade offer, and alerts you when someone scans, so you're scheduled before the flood instead of after it.
Free forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
USPSFirst-Class
Lisa Romero4127 E Javelina AveMesa, AZ 85206Scan for a free check
Lisa R. scanned your water heater postcard · 8 min ago
AI-written for this owner · Mailed in 2 days
10–15 yrstypical service life of a storage water heater
Owned 10+ yrsso the original tank is likely still in
Tanklessupgrade offers for higher-value homes
The problem
Water heater jobs usually start with a puddle and a panic call.
Water heater requests on lead sites go to several plumbers. You compete on speed and price for a job worth a few thousand dollars.
A route-wide mailer reaches new builds with two-year-old tanks as often as homes on their original one.
How it works
From list to mailbox in one workflow.
Five steps from an aging-tank list to a scheduled install.
app.usespur.com
See it in Spur
A water heater replacement list in Spur
Sample homes in one Mesa zip likely on their original water heater. Names are partly masked.
Zip 85206Single-familyOwner-occupiedBuilt 2006–2014Owned 10+ yrsExclude customers
- Lisa R.4127 E Javelina Ave2,060 sq ft · built 2012Owned 12 yrsLikely original tank
- Frank & Gail H.4410 E Hampton Ave2,480 sq ft · built 2008Owned 15 yrs4 bedrooms
- Ruben T.3921 E Kiva Ave1,780 sq ft · built 2010Owned 13 yrs
- Joyce M.4203 E Juanita Ave2,910 sq ft · built 2007Owned 16 yrsTankless candidate
- Alan K.4318 E Inglewood Cir2,250 sq ft · built 2013Owned 11 yrs
AI draft for Lisa R. · 4127 E Javelina Ave
IS THE TANK IN YOUR 2012 HOME ON BORROWED TIME?
Hi Lisa, homes on East Javelina Avenue were built around 2012. If your water heater is the original, it's past the typical 10-to-15-year life of a storage tank, and Mesa's hard water builds up sediment that shortens it further.
The worst time to replace a water heater is the morning it floods the garage. We'll check yours for free, flush it if it has life left, and give you a written quote with options: a new tank, a heat pump water heater, or tankless.
Scan the code to book a 30-minute visit.
Valley Plumbing Co. · AZ ROC #312876 · (480) 555-0124
Sample data for illustration. Your results depend on your market and filters.
Playbook
How to find water heater replacement leads before the leak
Water heaters are one of the most predictable jobs in plumbing. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that conventional storage water heaters typically last 10 to 15 years, and tankless units can last 20 or more. Hard water, high usage, and skipped maintenance shorten those lifespans. Yet most replacements still happen in an emergency, which means the homeowner calls whoever answers first and has no time to consider options.
Build year and ownership length are the best public proxies for tank age. Owner-occupied homes built 10 to 18 years ago, held by the same owner for 10 or more years, are likely still on their original water heater. Remove recent sales, since buyers often have the tank replaced or credited at closing, and remove your existing customers.
Offer a check, not just a tank. A free inspection and flush puts a plumber in front of the equipment, finds tanks with rust, leaks, or failing anode rods, and lets you recommend a replacement only when it's warranted. Homeowners trust a plumber who tells them their tank has a few years left.
Use the upgrade conversation. Water heating is one of the largest energy uses in a typical home, according to the Department of Energy. Federal efficiency standards for water heaters tightened in 2015, and a 2024 Department of Energy rule will require most new electric storage water heaters to use heat pump technology starting in 2029. A planned replacement is the moment to discuss tankless, heat pump water heaters, and right-sizing for the household, and those options carry higher tickets than a like-for-like emergency swap.
Time the mail. Tanks work hardest in winter, when incoming water is coldest. A campaign in early fall, plus a follow-up six weeks later, catches homeowners before the season that most often finishes off an old tank.
31×return on a year of Spur Team from four tankless upgrades
A few water heater installs pay for the year.
- Spur Team: $588/yr, plus 800 aging-tank homes × 2 cards = 1,600 postcards at $0.94 = $1,504
- Four tankless upgrades at $4,500 + six tank replacements at $2,200 = $31,200
- Tankless installs alone ($18,000) = 31× your subscription; the full year returns about 15× total spend
Example math. Ticket sizes vary by fuel type, capacity, and code requirements. Run your own numbers →
One tool, not four
Spur vs. the usual way to get water heater jobs
What you needThe usual waySpur
Homes likely on original tanksEmergency calls and shared leads✓ Built in
Exclusive leadSame request sent to several plumbers✓ Built in
Card about their home's tank ageGeneric coupon mailer✓ Built in
Printing and mailingPrint shop and post office✓ Built in
Knowing who's interestedWaiting for a leak✓ Built in
From plumbers using Spur
Results from the mailbox.
“I mailed 60 postcards to homes built before 1985 in my service area with an offer for a free water heater inspection. Got 9 scan alerts. Booked 7 inspections. Sold 4 water heater replacements and 1 full repipe. That campaign paid for 2 years of Spur from a single afternoon of mail.”
FAQ
Water heater lead questions
How do plumbers find water heater replacement leads?
Use build year and ownership length as proxies for tank age. Owner-occupied homes built 10 to 18 years ago and held 10+ years by the same owner are likely on their original water heater. Exclude recent sales and your existing customers.
How long does a water heater last?
The Department of Energy puts conventional storage water heaters at about 10 to 15 years and tankless units at 20 or more. Hard water and heavy use shorten those numbers.
Should I offer tankless on water heater mailers?
Yes, as one option alongside a like-for-like tank and a heat pump water heater. Planned replacements are when homeowners are open to upgrades, and higher-value homes are the best fit.
When is the best time to mail water heater offers?
Early fall, before winter puts the most strain on old tanks, with a follow-up about six weeks later.
Are water heater leads from Spur exclusive?
Yes. You build the list and mail it. Homeowners who scan are responding to your card, not a request sent to several plumbers.
Keep exploring
Related plays and guides
Start in minutes. No card required.
Schedule the replacement before the flood.
Pull the aging-tank homes in your service area and mail your first water heater offer today. Free to start.
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