Tankless Water Heater Installation Frisco, TX
Frisco Tankless Water Heater Installation
What if we told you that you could have an endless supply of hot water in North Texas that costs you less every month? Tankless water heaters are on-demand, energy-efficient water heating systems that eliminate the need to constantly store heated water. These space-saving, cost-saving, and in many cases property-saving appliances are the next generation of home comfort. That’s why many homeowners are making the switch!
Earl’s Plumbing is a certified Navien Service Specialist, meaning we’re trained and approved by the industry’s leading tankless brand. There are many benefits to upgrading to a tankless water heating system, and the folks here at Earl’s Plumbing want to make sure that our customers are equipped with all of the knowledge and information possible so that they can make the best decision regarding their water heating needs.
Request ServiceGot Questions?… We Have Your Answers…
These are the most common questions that we get asked from our customers.
What is the BEST Frisco Tankless Water Heater Brand Available?
Navien is a tankless water heater manufacture based in Korea, and they sell more tankless water heaters than anyone else in North America. So, it is Earl’s Plumbing’s opinion that Navien makes the best tankless water heaters on the market, and there is not a close second. This is based on multiple factors of consideration…
First, despite our relatively small size for DFW area we install A LOT of tankless water heaters. Our Frisco plumbers are told by the various suppliers that Earl’s Plumbing is one of the top purchasers of Navien tankless water heaters in the DFW market. So that means that we have a lot of experience in this segment of plumbing. Secondly, our opinion is based on the frequency of repairs, failures, and problems that we see from other brands of tankless heaters in the DFW and North Texas area. Thirdly, when you factor in the superior engineering and ease of installation, programming, and the rare diagnostic work…there simply is not a stronger contender for our #1 choice.
So, in summary, despite other manufacturers with overall bigger brand names such as Rheem, Rinnai, or Noritz, and/or the recent newcomers like Vesta or new options from State / AO Smith or Bradford & White, Navien is still far and away superior across all metrics that we consider and they back that with the longest warranty in the industry (15 years).
What Are the Cost Benefits from Transitioning Tank Heaters to a Tankless Water Heater in Frisco?
There is a cost associated with converting your two tank water heaters to tankless. However, when you try to get as close to an apples-to-apples comparison as possible, converting to tankless is actually less. Especially if your existing Frisco water heaters are in the attic! Here is how that breaks down:
First, the Navien tankless heaters have an industry best 15 year manufacturer’s warranty. The closest that we can get to that with two new traditional tank water heaters is 12 years. Then factor in that the Navien 240A has a built-in recirculation pump. When properly installed and programmed by our experienced plumbers, this allows extended wait times for hot water to be reduced from minutes to seconds. This same feature can be added to tank water heaters; however, it adds an additional $600+ in cost. Then factor in the additional cost that is required to install tank water heaters in the attic (attic labor), then you are getting really close!
Next is the $600 in Federal Income Tax Energy credits. Then there is the possibility of another $250 rebate from your utility provider (currently only Atmos). Now consider the gas utilities savings with the tankless conversion which is typically $450+ per year, every year, but for this exercise we are just using first year savings only. Then there is the unknown dollar amount of water waste savings by reducing hot water wait times. ALL totaled this is somewhere between $1150 and $1500 first year out of pocket savings. Comparing all of this to the installation of TWO 12 year tank water heaters in the attic with recirculation option, and the first year savings is somewhere between $900 to $1300 LESS. First year savings on a garage installation is not as much, but it still makes financial sense when you consider the full life expectancy savings of the tankless water heater.
How Much Does Installing a Tankless Water Heater in Frisco Cost?
For this answer, we can only provide a high-level overview because there are just far too many “scope of job” variables from one install to the next. From the Earl’s Plumbing and North Texas perspective, a tankless water heater installation from us may range from as little as $2800 to more than $6500 (for one) and in excess of $10,000 for two tankless installs. We have even installed THREE tankless water heaters in really large homes. There are multiple considerations that play into the various pricing variables. Some of those include:
- Retrofit job that is going from TWO tanks to ONE tankless
- Replacement SWAP of existing tankless to a new tankless
- Specific model number that is best for space and/or location requirements – not all models are seamlessly interchangeable
- Relocation and/or replacement of a tankless unit that is located outside (in the brick cabinet) to the inside of the garage
- Home specifics such as number of bathrooms, age of build, and total square footage
- Location of the install…whether it will it be in the attic, garage, second floor closet, or other area
- Type of roofing on the home (shingles vs other types of roofing (slate, tile, etc.) – venting must be “properly” installed
- Customer specified options such as Flood Stop device, Peak Flow conditioning system, external recirculation, etc.
At Earl’s Plumbing we install more tankless water heaters than any other residential service plumber in the North Texas area. Because of this experience, we are the experts in the area and are often referred to by other plumbers. Because of our volume, we receive special pricing and materials that are passed along in the way of savings to you. Plus, none of our plumbers are subcontractors or on sales commission, so there is no unnecessary cost built into the estimate. Lastly, unlike some of the competitors in the area, Earl’s Plumbing does not fabricate unnecessary requirements such as the need to “increase your gas line size” in an attempt to falsely add thousands in cost to your project.
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What Type of Maintenance Is Required for a Frisco Tankless Water Heater?
All tankless water heaters require maintenance at least every 500 hours of use. That is virtually impossible for you or us to track but the manufacturer has a way of determining the hours used and maintenance in their coding and diagnostic settings. This is how they can void the warranty if the required maintenance is not being performed. So, the rule of thumb in almost all residential applications is annually.
Math can be done as well. 15 minute showers…multiplied by the number of people in the home…factor in dish and clothes washing…factor in washing hands and cooking, etc.…multiply that by 365 days a year…that is easily 600 hours. However, the typical rule of thumb is that 500 use hours typically equals annually for a family of four. Larger families would need to be at least annually or sooner. As long as you keep your maintenance invoices showing that you made a good faith effort even if you were not exactly annually, then you should be good.
Two other points…1) Ignoring or refusing to get the tankless maintenance done and done “properly” WILL 100% cause permanent damage and repair issues to your tankless unit regardless of brand. 2) Having a water softener OR conditioner / filter system in the home significantly helps and the intervals between maintenance can be increased to a certain degree. 3) Vinegar is NOT a suitable cleaning agent for descaling your tankless heater. It has been determined that the acidic properties of vinegar dilute too fast when exposed to the scale build up. To be effective the vinegar would have to continually be replaced multiple times over the course of 45+ minutes or until no white residue is present. There are specialty products made to perform this function, and although more expensive, they are far more thorough in far less time. Schedule tankless water heater maintenance in Frisco today!
Call (945) 523-8700Can a Tankless Water Heater Reduce My Wait Time for Hot Water and Reduce Waste?
Yes and no. This can only be achieved with certain models that have a built-in recirculation pump along with the ability to program the system to properly cycle off and on. More specifically, the Navien NPE 240Av2 and the Navien NHW-A both have this feature installed. There is a device that we install on the furthest faucet, and that typically helps all of the other fixtures in the house.
So, if you have an extended hot water wait times of 2, 3 and even 4 minutes, this option can be employed to produce instant warm water across all fixtures and significantly reduced wait times of just 3 to 30 seconds based on proximity of fixture, distance of water travel, and time of year. Each homes results differ slightly, and we can provide better expectations upon reviewing your individual situation. Ultimately though we get a lot of compliments on this cool feature.
Can a Tankless Water Heater Be Installed in the Attic?
When converting FROM tank heaters TO tankless, installing a tankless water heater in the attic is actually the preferred location and the least expensive install location when compared to most other locations such as the garage.
Ultimately, attic installations are easier because everything is in plain sight. No guesses, no drywall removal, or heavy demolition to be able to access the various existing and reusable components (gas lines, drain lines, etc.). An electrical outlet is easier to locate and extend in the attic, and there is minimal guess work on how we will install the exhaust venting.
Another often unrealized benefit of tankless in the attic is that your exposure to catastrophic failure of ruptured tank heaters is significantly reduced. Especially when you add an emergency shutoff device (i.e., Flood Stop) to the new install. In the case of an unexpected failure, a tankless water heater holds less than 3 gallons of “cold” water versus tanks holding 100 gallons of “hot” water above your living areas.
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Call (945) 523-8700What Are the Biggest Differences Between a Navien and Other Brands?
The biggest difference that we see from the Frisco plumber perspective is the engineering and overall simplifications. These tankless heaters are practically jet engines, and when installed properly and regularly maintained, will last 20+ years. Navien backs their products with the longest warranty within the industry… 15 years on the heat exchanger and 5 years on all other parts. This is as long as the installation is done correctly and that the tankless unit’s regularly scheduled maintenance is completed and can be verified.
As of this writing (2024), Navien is the only tankless water heater that uses stainless steel for its main components and heat exchanger versus copper. Copper is suitable, but stainless steel is far superior in strength and corrosion resistance. Especially when considering the combustion temperatures and the molecular changes that take place in that process.
What Is the Difference Between a Condensating and Non-Condensating Tankless Water Heater?
There are two types of natural gas tankless water heaters. Units that produce condensation (moisture that forms during the heating & combustion process) and the more common units that do not.
Condensating heaters are typically slightly larger in size, allowing for a few more conveniences and performance features to be added. They heat more efficiently which allows them to produce a higher volume of hot water volume (gallons per minute or GPM’s) while using the same or less utilities (gas) versus its counterpart. The condensation that is produced must be properly discharged and disposed of. This adds an obstacle that must be considered in the initial planning and installation stages. Condensating heaters such as the Navien NPE 240 are typically preferred when converting from two tanks to tankless.
Non-condensating tankless water heaters are typically smaller in size, overall, less efficient with utilities (gas), and will produce significantly less hot water volume (20-25% less GPM’s) while using the same amount of gas utilities. This tankless heater version is far more common in new home construction builds due to its lower cost but can often be way undersized for a normal family’s needs unless there is more than one unit. For comparison’s sake, in ideal conditions (rare) with BOTH heater types operating at peak capacity (199,000 BTU’s); a non-condensating heater can produce a maximum of approximately 9 GPM’s where as a condensating heater will produce up to 11 GPM’s.
Does My Gas Pipe Sizing Need to Be Increased to Transition to a Tankless Water Heater?
This question comes up a lot when we are quoting jobs that other plumbing companies have already quoted. Prospective customers are often told that their gas pipe size is undersized and that it will need to be increased. This of course adds “thousands” to the quoted price for a supposed “requirement.” Well, that is simply not true in the vast majority of cases. In fact, it is VERY rare that the gas pipe sizing needs any work other than what is basic and included in the normal price.
We know this for a fact, because despite our small size, we retrofit install more Navien tankless water heaters than any other residential service plumbing company in the area. We know based off purchase records from the area suppliers. So, if Navien is the #1 bestselling tankless water heater brand in North America and we purchase more than any other plumbing company, then we obviously have a lot of tankless units throughout the area. In the last few years, we have installed over 400 Navien tankless water heaters and probably quoted over 500. In all, there has been less than 10 times that the gas pipe sizing needed to be increased. In fact, it is far more common that the gas meter size needs to be increased, and the utility provider does that for free.
If you need more proof that the company that pays their employees on 100% sales commission might be trying to pull a fast one to drive your overall ticket up; go to the Navien website and read for yourself. It clearly states on the “Navien NPE-240A2 Features & Benefits” (one scroll down on the bottom right); it states, “1/2 gas pipe capability up to 24 feet. Cuts installation time. No need to install new gas lines for retrofit installations”
Are There Any Special Roofing Requirements for Tankless Water Heaters Venting or Exhaust?
Yes, or usually. All tankless water heaters regardless of brand will have some sort of special requirements for the exhaust venting and intake air. The two biggest issues that we run into on repairs or service calls is that the intake air and exhaust are too close together causing error codes; or the exhaust was just never done correctly when the tankless water heater was installed and now damage to the unit has occurred.
What we see far too often is where an unknowledgeable installer will improperly tie the new tankless exhaust venting into the existing metal b-vent pipe that was used for the regular tank type water heater(s). This is NOT allowed and will void the warranty. It could also cause permanent damage to the tankless water heater. A correct install that has been permitted and inspected will have the venting completed all the way through the roof or side wall based on model and/or location.
With an Earl’s Plumbing tankless water heater installation in Frisco, we employ a certified third party roofer that comes to your home within 3 weeks of completion and fully completes the exhaust work. This includes removing the old metal b-vent that is temporarily being used as a pass through to allow the unit to operate, new weatherproof pipe boot flashing, final required fittings installed, and all spray paint to match. This used to be optional, but we determined that it never got done so now it is included in our price so as not to void any warranty related issues.
Does a Tankless Water Heater Require a Thermal Expansion Tank?
The short answer is NO… at least not by plumbing code in Texas. However, in certain situations an expansion tank may be needed, but not necessarily to help control the thermal expansion process that is created in a closed loop system with traditional tank water heaters. If installed it is typically at the manufacturer’s request or discretion.
An example of this would be in Frisco or McKinney, Texas, where in some areas the water pressure at the street might exceed 120 PSI. This high water pressure is reduced by a device called the Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV). This is required by city code, and by design, when adjusted properly, it reduces the pressure to 80 PSI or LESS. This is the maximum pressure you want inside your home to avoid problems. Even 80 PSI is relatively high and sometimes a small expansion tank might be added to help protect the tankless water heater’s more sensitive parts at these elevated water pressures.
This is the case with the Navien 240A units. A very small specially designed mini expansion tank is often added as an extra protective measure for the tankless unit itself. Although it is not required by code, the manufacturer strongly encourages the addition of the device during its certification training.
Are Tankless Water Heaters Prone to Freezing?
During the big freeze of February 2021, in almost every instance that a Frisco tankless water heater froze and ruptured was due to 1) the homeowner not being home to execute some basic protective steps; 2) home but did not know or did not follow basic freeze prevention instructions; OR 3) they took bad instructions and advice from somebody who did not know what they were talking about, including government officials and their press staff, journalists and news anchors, the neighborhood DIY guru, or worse, the area handyman.
The Rheem RTGH 95DVLN is what most of the builders use. Because of the price it is far and away the most common tankless water heater in North Texas, but because of its price, this unit has its own set of obstacles. First is sheer abundance. Next is inferior design and engineering. Then factor in the location that homebuilders install them (outside in the brick). Well, that particular model did not fare well during extreme weather. However, the people who took steps and followed common sense advice, their Rheem heaters mounted in the same locations, faired just fine.
In summary, NO. Tankless water heaters are NOT prone to freezing! Some of the locations where they are installed exposes them to more extreme conditions and this is not helpful. However, proactive steps can be taken to prevent damage even when the model is inferior and/or in a poor location. A simple rule is that the enemy of frozen pipes and freeze damage is rapidly running water. In other words, if ALL of your fixtures are frequently turned on – toilets flushed, faucets run, etc. – during the coldest hours, then your pipes and your tankless water heater will be just fine. This might require a little sleep deprivation and a higher water bill, but do you prefer a $200 water bill or a $40,000 flood repair claim?
For more information on freeze prevention steps, please refer to our BLOG post about “Freeze Damage Prevention.”
Tips from Our Experts
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Do tankless water heaters freeze?
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Choose Frisco’s Tankless Water Heater Experts
No one has gone through the comprehensive research, training, and experience with tankless water heaters that Earl’s Plumbing has! When it comes to the safety, convenience, and budget of our customers, we’ve thought of everything. No team will go further to answer your questions and ensure that your system works perfectly than Earl’s! Call today to get an estimate and find out if a tankless system is right for you!
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