Tankless Water Heater in Lemon Grove, CA

When tankless is worth considering

• Your storage tank is aging or has started to weep at the fittings
• The household regularly runs out of hot water
• You want to free up a garage corner or utility closet
• An existing tankless heater has lost flow or keeps flashing a fault code
• You're remodeling a bathroom or kitchen and the heater location could move

Lemon Grove water and plumbing

Helix Water District supplies Lemon Grove with a blend of imported Colorado River and State Water Project water bought through the San Diego County Water Authority and local runoff from Lake Cuyamaca and El Capitan Reservoir. Most of it is treated at Helix's R.M. Levy plant in Lakeside, with ozone at the plant and chloramines in the pipes. Helix lists treated plant water at 155 to 250 mg/L as calcium carbonate, an average of about 12 grains per gallon, while purchased water averages about 8.5. Either way, minerals deposit inside a heat exchanger whenever water is heated quickly, so a flush kit and isolation valves belong on the install.

Lemon Grove is a long-established suburb, and many of its homes have a heater tucked in a garage or side closet on a gas line sized for a tank. The Building Division at City Hall handles permits; call (619) 825-3800 to confirm what your project needs.

Cost factors

• Gas line capacity. A whole-house burner often needs a larger pipe from the meter.
• New venting. Tankless units need their own vent rather than the existing flue.
• Power. An outlet for the controls on gas units; a large dedicated circuit for electric ones.
• Water treatment. A softener or scale cartridge given Helix hardness.
• Relocation. Moving the heater adds piping but may shorten hot water waits.

What happens when you call

Your call is routed to an independent plumber who works in Lemon Grove. Be ready to describe the current heater, the number of bathrooms and where the gas meter sits. The plumber looks at gas pressure and pipe size, the vent route and the electrical supply before recommending a model, and normally takes care of the permit and inspection. For a water main issue on Helix's side, call 619-466-0585. If you smell gas, get out of the house first, then call 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343.