Tankless Water Heater in Cumming, GA

Will a tankless unit fit my Cumming house?

In most cases. The median home in Cumming was built in 1998, and only about 17% predate 1980. Houses from that period usually keep the water heater in a garage, basement or utility room, and that is where a wall-hung tankless unit is easiest to place. The plumber's checklist is short but important: the gas pipe size from the meter to the new unit, a vent path to an outside wall within the maker's limits, a drain for condensate if you pick a condensing model, and an outlet for the controls. Large homes with three or more bathrooms may need a bigger unit, or two units linked together, to keep up when several showers run on a busy morning. If the house is all-electric, the question becomes whether the panel can carry an electric unit or whether a smaller tank still makes more sense.

What is the water like?

Cumming Utilities pumps Lake Lanier water to its plant on Dahlonega Highway and disinfects it with chlorine. The report states no lead service line material has been found in the city system. It does not list hardness, which is the number that matters most for scale inside a heat exchanger, so a home water test is a sensible first step before you decide on a softener or set a flushing interval. Addresses near Cumming may be served by Forsyth County Water and Sewer instead, so check your water bill. Either way, the heater sits on the homeowner's side of the meter.

Who issues the permit?

Inside city limits, the City of Cumming Planning and Zoning office handles building permits and inspections, including plumbing permits. The application is a downloadable form, and inspections are requested by phone on weekdays at 770-781-2024. Cumming is the only incorporated city in Forsyth County, so a Cumming mailing address outside city limits goes through the county instead. A tankless conversion touches water, gas and venting, so the plumber should plan on an inspection before the work is signed off.

A note on gas

Georgia 811 lists Atlanta Gas Light as the only gas operator for Forsyth County, so AGL owns the pipes and meter even though a marketer sends the bill. A larger meter for a tankless burner is arranged through AGL. If you ever smell gas, leave the house first, then call 911 and Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 from a safe place.