Tankless Water Heater in National City, CA

What happens when you call

Your call connects you with an independent plumber who works in National City. Expect questions about the heater you have now (gas or electric, tank size, age), where it sits, how many bathrooms the home has and how many people shower in the morning. From there the plumber can tell you whether a whole-house gas unit, a smaller point-of-use heater or a high-efficiency tank fits the house better. A site visit settles the details: gas meter location, pipe sizes, the vent route and the electrical outlet the unit needs for its controls.

What drives the cost

• Gas line upgrade. Older branch lines are often sized only for a tank.
• Vent route. The old tank flue can't be reused; a short wall vent costs less than a run through a roof.
• Electrical. Gas units need power for controls and ignition; electric whole-house units may need a new circuit or panel work.
• Permit and inspection. National City's Building Division requires a permit for residential water heater replacement.
• Extras. Isolation valves, a scale filter or a recirculation pump add to the price but extend service life or comfort.

National City conditions to plan around

National City is the second-oldest city in San Diego County, incorporated in 1887, and its housing still includes Victorian-era homes. In older buildings the heater may sit in a small closet or on a back porch, and the walls around it may hold galvanized or patched supply piping. A tankless unit is compact, but it needs clearance, a vent path and adequate gas, and the supply piping it connects to should be in sound shape. In multi-unit buildings the vent route is often the deciding factor.

Water comes from Sweetwater Authority, which uses chloramine as its disinfectant and draws partly on deep freshwater wells within National City. Mineral content still builds up in any heater over time, so plan on isolation valves so the heat exchanger can be flushed. Water emergencies on the authority's side go to Sweetwater at (619) 420-1413.

Before the plumber arrives

• Clear a path to the heater, the gas meter and the electrical panel
• Photograph the label on the current heater
• Note any hot water complaints, such as running out, slow delivery or temperature swings
• If you rent, get the owner's approval for permit work
• If you smell gas, leave first, then call 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343 from outside