Tankless heaters can work well in Ramona, but the right setup depends on whether you're on Ramona Municipal Water District water or a private well, and on whether the house has utility gas, propane or electricity. Ramona is unincorporated, so permits go through the County. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Ramona.
What happens when you call
Your call connects you with an independent plumber who works in Ramona. Be ready to say where your water comes from, what fuel heats it, where the heater is and how far it sits from the bathrooms. Ranch and acreage properties sometimes have a barn, casita or guest room on a separate line, and the plumber may suggest a second smaller unit for those. A visit confirms fuel capacity, the vent route, electrical service and, on a well, the condition of the water feeding the heater.
What drives the cost
- Fuel. A gas line upgrade, a propane tank and regulator check, or electrical service work for an electric unit.
- Water quality. Well water may need sediment filtration or softening to protect the heat exchanger.
- Venting. A short exterior-wall vent costs less than a long route.
- Freeze protection. Insulation and steady power for outdoor units.
- Permit. Issued by the County of San Diego for unincorporated Ramona.
Ramona conditions
Ramona is a semi-rural foothill community of vineyards, orchards and horse ranches with a commercial Town Center along Main Street. Ramona Municipal Water District supplies imported water bought through the San Diego County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District, with Lake Ramona filled with Water Authority raw water. The County's Ramona Community Plan says development outside the district's service area depends entirely on groundwater from private wells. Well water often brings sediment and minerals, so a tankless unit on a well should have a filter ahead of it and service valves for flushing.
SDG&E supplies most electricity in the Ramona planning area, but natural gas coverage across the community wasn't confirmed, so some homes may use propane or be all-electric. The median home was built around 1983, and about 44.5 percent predate 1980. Inland foothill nights get cold in winter, so outdoor units need their freeze protection powered. Permits go through the County of San Diego Planning & Development Services Building Division, online via Accela Citizen Access or at (858) 694-3900.
Before the plumber arrives
- Know whether you're on Ramona MWD (760-789-1330) or a well
- For propane, have the supplier's name and tank size handy
- Photograph the heater label and the vent
- List any outbuildings that need hot water
- If you smell gas, leave first, then call 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343; on propane, call 911 and your supplier
Tankless Water Heaters questions in Ramona
Does a private well change how a tankless heater is installed?
Will a tankless heater run on propane?
Does switching from a tank to a tankless heater need a permit?
How is the right tankless size worked out for a household?
More plumbing services in Ramona
Tankless Water Heaters nearby
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