If you are considering installing a tankless water heater into your home, congratulations! There are many benefits to a tankless water heater (you can read about them here).
But, if you are thinking that you may want to install it yourself, there are a few things you should first know before you begin that project. But let’s get the basics down first.
So, can you install a tankless water heater? – The answer depends on how handy you are. The skills and knowledge needed to install a tankless water heater include how to manage a gas line, how to assess if you have the right amount of electrical power and the basics of plumbing. If you possess all these skills and knowledge base then you MIGHT be able to install a tankless water heater.
BUT – it is important to mention that many manufacturers of these units will not honor a warranty if it is not installed by a professional.
Okay, so let’s talk about the specifics on installing a tankless water heater.
How Hard Is It To Install A Tankless Water Heater?
In general, water heaters are not a simple plug and play type of appliance. There’s electrical issues, gas line issues, venting issues and of course plumbing issues to contend with. Tankless water heater units are no exception to this rule.
There’s no two ways around it – installing a tankless water heater is hard – it’s definitely not easy. Unless of course, you are skilled in all the necessary areas that you need to be. But honestly, when it comes to dealing with electrical issues and gas lines – it’s better to be safe and have a trained professional do the job.
The process of replacing your standard water heater with a tankless one generally invovles the following:
- The old system must be removed.
- A new gas line (or heat source access) has to be installed. (power outlet)
- When installing new gas lines and/or water lines, walls and/or ceilings may have to be opened.
- If walls / ceilings are opened then comes the cost of repairing them with drywall and paint and sometimes repair of molding.
Pros And Cons Of Installing Your Own Tankless Water Heater
The only pro to installing your own tankless unit is the cost. BUT – if you install the unit incorrectly, it may not perform as well as it could. If you make a mistake with electrical or gas line matters – then the damage that is caused by those may end up costing you much more than you saved installing the unit yourself.
There is a list of cons that we can give you:
- extensive knowledge and skills are needed in plumbing, electrical and gas
- because homes were generally not built for tankless units, you may also have to do some minor construction in order to create a space for a tankless unit.
- many municipalities require permits and inspections when installing a tankless unit so you will need to check with your city / county to find out if you need to go through this process before you purchase and attempt to install a tankless water water.
So, you see, it’s more than just replacing your old water heater – hence the higher cost of installation.
Cost Of Installing A Tankless Water Heater
Generally, installing a tankless water heater is about double the cost of installing a standard water heater.
According to HomeAdvisor.com – the typical range of cost for installation of tankless water heaters in the Atlanta, Ga. area ranges from $3200.00 to $4000.00 per unit plus parts and labor.
Although it may seem that would be saving money by installing the tankless unit yourself, we strongly recommend for your safety and the safety of your family, to hire a professional plumber certified in the installation of Tankless units to do the job for you.
If you have any questions about tankless water heaters or are having some problems with yours, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-443-8229. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.