Tankless Water Heater Installation Pierce County | Gas & Electric Tankless

Tankless Water Heater Installation in Pierce County & South King County

Endless hot water, smaller footprint, longer service life. Andy's Plumbing & Drain installs, converts, and services gas and electric tankless water heaters across Pierce and South King County. We size to your home's actual demand — not a generic spec sheet — and tell you up front whether your home is a good candidate or whether a hybrid or tank unit is the smarter call.

A plumbing company that remembers your home.

Properly Sized to Your Home Permits & Inspection Handled Flat-Rate Pricing

Why Homeowners Switch to Tankless

Tankless water heaters heat water on demand instead of holding 50 gallons hot all day. The honest reasons people switch:

Endless hot water for back-to-back showers, large tubs, or simultaneous demand
Wall-mounted, smaller footprint — reclaims floor space
Service life of 20+ years vs. 8–12 for tanks
Energy-efficient operation when properly sized
No tank to leak and flood the floor

The honest reasons not to switch:

Higher up-front install cost than a tank swap
Requires adequate gas line capacity (or a 240V circuit for electric units)
Hard water shortens service life unless you descale annually or pair with a softener
Some homes do not have a vent path that supports tankless

Sizing Done Right

Tankless units are rated by gallons-per-minute (GPM) at a specific temperature rise. We measure incoming water temperature, calculate the temperature rise needed for your climate, and size the unit to your peak simultaneous demand — how many showers, faucets, and appliances might run at once on a cold morning.

Undersized tankless units run cold during peak demand. Oversized tankless units cost more than they need to. We size to your home, not a generic spec sheet, and we tell you the demand math we used.

Gas vs. Electric Tankless

Gas tankless is what most homes get. Higher GPM capacity, faster recovery, and works on natural gas or propane. Requires a gas line capable of supplying the unit (often an upsize from existing line) and a vent path (typically through the wall via concentric vent kit).

Electric tankless works in smaller homes or single-bath applications. Requires a 240V circuit and adequate panel capacity. Lower GPM than gas, but no venting needed.

Gas Meter Sizing Calculator

Most homes in our service area have a standard "250" gas meter, rated for 300,000 BTU/hr. Utilities size for real-world usage, not every appliance firing at max output at once, so the standard practice is to apply a 75% demand factor to your total connected gas load and check that against the meter's rated capacity. Check the appliances that apply to your home — typical BTU values are filled in, adjust any you know exactly.

Furnace (gas)

Gas range / cooktop (all burners)

Gas fireplace

Gas dryer

Second water heater staying in place (not the unit being replaced)

New tankless water heater

Ballpark only — every home's actual connected load and meter condition gets confirmed on-site during your free estimate before we quote anything.

What a Tankless Install Looks Like

Free in-home assessment: incoming water temp, gas/electrical capacity, vent path, water line condition, mounting location
Quote flat-rate before any work, including all permits and code upgrades
Day-of: shut off water, remove old unit, run gas/water/vent as needed, mount and commission new unit, test temperature rise across all fixtures, walk you through operation
Permit pulled, inspection scheduled, warranty registered

What It Costs

Tankless install pricing is flat-rate, told to you up front. The number depends on:

Unit size and brand (Rinnai, Navien, Noritz, Rheem, etc.)
Gas line capacity (often needs upsize from 1/2" to 3/4")
Vent path complexity
Water line modifications and code-required upgrades
Whether you need an electric service upgrade for hybrid or all-electric

Tankless almost always costs more than a tank-for-tank swap. The trade is service life, hot water capacity, and energy efficiency. We give you the math so you can decide honestly.

Honest take: Not every home is a tankless candidate. If your gas line cannot support the BTU draw, your vent path is blocked by structure, or your simultaneous demand is high enough that a single tankless cannot keep up, we will tell you. A right-sized tank or hybrid is the better call in those situations.

Maintenance: Descaling

Tankless units need descaling. Pierce and South King County water has enough mineral content that scale will eventually build up on the heat exchanger and cut efficiency. We recommend an annual descale on most units, more frequently if your water is harder. We can do the descale or show you how to do it yourself.

Common Tankless Questions

Is tankless really worth the higher install cost?

For most multi-bath homes that plan to stay put 8+ years, yes. The service life difference (20+ years vs. 8–12) and the endless hot water typically justify the up-front difference. For a small home or a short-stay property, a quality tank or hybrid is often the smarter call. We give you the math both ways.

Will tankless give me hot water everywhere at once?

If sized correctly, yes. We size to your peak simultaneous demand. An undersized unit will run cold during peak draw. We measure your demand and pick the unit that handles it.

How long does a tankless install take?

First-time tankless installs are typically a full day depending on gas line work, vent path, and water line modifications. Tankless-to-tankless replacements are faster.

Do I need to descale my tankless?

Yes. Local water has enough mineral content to build scale on the heat exchanger over time. Annual descale on most units, more often on harder water or paired with a softener. We can do it or show you how.

My gas line is too small. Can it be upsized?

Often yes. We size the gas line to the unit's BTU rating and run new line as needed. We pull the gas permit and pressure-test before commissioning.

Do tankless units qualify for rebates?

Some high-efficiency models qualify for utility or federal rebates depending on your provider and the year. We point you to current rebate programs after we quote, but we do not promise a rebate amount.