Short answer: Market Village was built in 2002 to 2004, so an original tank water heater would now be more than two decades old, well past the 8 to 12 years Angi gives for a tank heater. If yours is in an interior closet, replace it on age instead of waiting for a leak, put it in a drain pan with a line to a drain, add a leak sensor and make sure everyone in the home knows where the shutoff is.
Why Market Village is different
The City of Smyrna says Market Village was built as a public and private partnership in 2002 to 2004, with 16 townhomes above retail and office space and a second phase of shops in 2004. That stacking changes what a leak means. Water from an upstairs closet can reach a home or business below, so the owner who sees the damage may not be the owner whose water heater caused it.
How old is your water heater?
Angi gives 8 to 12 years as the typical life of a tank water heater, says a unit older than 10 years likely needs to be replaced, and notes that tank warranties of six, nine or 12 years are a guide to expected life. If the original tank from a 2002 to 2004 build is still in place, it is far past that range. The manufacturer's label on the tank, and the maker's website, can tell you when it was made.
Warning signs
- Rust-colored water from hot taps. Angi says brown or reddish water can mean the tank interior is corroding. For an aging tank, replacement is likely the better choice over adding a new anode rod.
- Water pooling around the base. Angi says to check for this and notes that condensation or a leak from another source can cause it too, but a leaking heater should be replaced as soon as possible.
- Age past 10 years, even with no symptoms.
A real person answers 24 hours a day and tells you what to do first, before anyone comes out.
Protecting the units below
Water heaters in townhomes are often in interior closets with little room around them. Practical protection:
- A drain pan under the tank, with a line that leads to a drain.
- A leak sensor on the floor of the closet that alerts you or the household.
- A known shutoff. Everyone in the home should know where the water heater's shutoff is, and where the main for the unit is.
- Replacement on age, not after the first leak, when neighbors and storefronts are below.
The City of Smyrna's water and sewer page says customers may be eligible for a rebate on a smart leak detector. It does not list the amount or the rules, so ask the City before you buy.
Check your association rules first
Ownership is shared in Market Village, so the association documents decide which pipes are common elements and which belong to the unit owner. Before replacing a heater, check the rules on contractors, access and shutoffs. If a leak does happen, stop the water if you can, tell management right away and take photos and notes of where it started, since that helps owners, the association and insurers sort out responsibility.
What a good replacement looks like
- A written scope that says what is being replaced, and what happens to the old tank
- A drain pan and line to a drain, where the layout allows it
- Proper venting for a gas unit, and a relief valve line routed safely
- A conversation about permits: ask your plumber which apply and who pulls them
See water heater repair and installation for what we handle, and Market Village and Williams Park for local background.
Sources
Written and reviewed by Alex, a Smyrna local with an MBA who researches and edits every page on this site, citing official and published sources. Published November 3, 2026.
Plumbing work is performed by independent, licensed Georgia plumbers. General information, not legal or insurance advice.