Water heater and tankless water heater replacement

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Most homes here have a gas or electric storage tank in the basement. Tanks do not last forever, and the usual signs that one is near the end are rust-coloured hot water, rumbling, water around the base, or hot water that runs out sooner than it used to. A tank that is actively leaking should have its cold-water supply shut off and, for a gas unit, its control turned to off or pilot before it does more damage.

Tankless (on-demand) heaters save space and do not run out mid-shower, but they are not a straight swap. A gas tankless unit usually needs a larger gas supply and different venting than a tank, and water hardness matters. Groundwater in much of York Region, King Township, Caledon and Whitchurch-Stouffville is hard, and scale builds up inside both tanks and tankless heat exchangers — a tankless unit on hard water typically needs regular descaling or a softener upstream.

Many Ontario homes rent their water heater rather than own it. If yours is a rental, check the agreement before replacing it — there may be buyout or return terms to deal with. Rural properties on roads without natural gas often run electric or propane heaters; say which you have when you fill in the form.

York Simcoe Plumbing is a free referral service: your request goes to one independent local plumber who covers your town, and they quote and do the work.

What to Tell the Plumber

Gas, electric or propane, and tank or tankless.
Roughly how old the unit is — the date is usually on the label.
Whether it is owned or rented.
What is wrong: no hot water, not enough, leaking, noise, or a pilot that will not stay lit.
How many bathrooms the house has, if you are thinking about tankless.

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Water heaters and tankless: Questions, Answered

It depends on your gas supply, venting, water hardness and how your household uses hot water. Tankless suits households that run out of hot water or need the space; a new tank is usually the simpler installation. A plumber can look at your gas line and venting and tell you what each option involves in your house.

A plumber can install a heater you own, but a rented unit belongs to the rental company. Check your rental agreement for buyout and return terms first, so you are not paying rent on a tank that has been taken out.

Yes. Scale settles in the bottom of a tank and coats the heat exchanger of a tankless unit, which costs efficiency and shortens its life. Flushing a tank, descaling a tankless unit, or treating the water with a softener all help. Much of the groundwater in this area is hard.

Turn off the cold-water supply to the heater, set a gas unit to off or pilot, or switch off the breaker for an electric one, and move anything that could be damaged. If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.

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York Simcoe Plumbing is a free referral service: your request goes to one independent local plumber, who quotes and does the work. We may receive compensation when you are connected with a plumber; there is no charge to you.