What is involved in installing a tankless water heater?
- We look at your home. Where the old heater is, the gas line size, the vent route, the water lines and the nearest power.
- We size the unit. By how many showers and taps run at once in your house, and how cold the incoming water gets.
- You get a written estimate that lists everything the job needs.
- We install it. The old heater comes out and is hauled away. The new unit is mounted, vented, and connected to gas, water and power.
- We test and show you. Hot water at the far fixtures, the controls, and how it is serviced.
When the job needs a permit, we pull it.
Can I switch from a tank to tankless?
In most homes, yes. Going from a tank to tankless is a bigger job than swapping one tank for another, because a tankless unit burns more gas while it runs and vents differently. Three things usually change:
- The gas line. Many homes need a larger line to the heater. See gas line upgrades.
- The vent. Tankless units use their own sealed vent, usually out through a wall or the roof.
- Power and drain. The unit needs an outlet, and condensing models need a small drain line.
We check all three before we quote, so the price you get is for the whole job.
Is tankless right for my house?
Tankless suits homes that run out of hot water, want the floor space back, or want a unit that heats only when hot water is used. A tank can be the better choice when the gas line or vent route makes the conversion costly, or when a simple, lower-cost replacement is what you need. We install both and will tell you plainly which we would pick for your home. See water heater repair and replacement.
Which brands do you install?
Navien, Rinnai and Noritz. Installed prices for common setups are on our tankless water heater shop page.
How long does installation take?
Replacing an existing tankless unit with a new one is usually done in one visit. A tank-to-tankless conversion takes longer, because of the gas, vent and power work. Your estimate says how long yours should take.
Does a tankless water heater need maintenance?
Yes. Scale builds up inside the heat exchanger and has to be flushed out from time to time. We do that service and tankless repair. A water softener slows scale in hard-water areas.
Where do you install?
We are based in Hayward and install across the East Bay, including San Lorenzo, San Leandro, Castro Valley, Union City and Fremont.
Who is Friendly Services?
A family-owned plumbing company with over 20 years in Hayward. License CSLB #1156315 (C-36 plumbing), $1M general liability cover and workers' comp. Our own work has a five-year workmanship warranty, and we have 100+ five-star reviews online.