Tankless Water Heater in Griffin, GA

Signs it is time

• An aging tank showing rust at the fittings or a damp base
• Hot water running short when the house is full
• Rusty or cloudy hot water
• A tankless unit that throws codes or will not stay lit
• A long wait for hot water at a far bathroom

Griffin conditions

Griffin is the Spalding County seat and an old railroad town, and its housing reflects that: the median home was built in 1976, and about 55% predate 1980. Water heaters in older houses tend to be in closets, basements or back utility rooms with a vertical flue that a sealed tankless vent cannot reuse. The plumber will look for an exterior wall close to the heater and measure the gas pipe from the meter, since a tankless burner draws far more gas at full fire than a tank.

The City of Griffin owns its water system, drawing from the Upper Flint River and storing water in the Heads Creek and Still Branch reservoirs. The water is disinfected with chlorine and chlorine dioxide. The report on the city site does not list hardness, so test before choosing a flush interval. City locators mark only lines on the city side of the meter, so call Georgia 811 before any digging for a new gas run outdoors.

Inside city limits, plumbing work needs a trade permit pulled by a contractor holding a state license, and the permit list specifically includes gas lines. The Permits Division is at 100 S. Hill St. Areas outside city limits fall to Spalding County.

Cost factors

• New or larger gas pipe from the meter to the unit
• A new vent through a sidewall or roof
• Relocating the heater from an interior closet to an exterior wall
• Condensate drainage for a high-efficiency unit
• Unit capacity and any recirculation
• City trade permit and inspection

When you call

You will be connected with an independent plumber who works in the Griffin area. Have the heater's age, your fuel type and whether you are inside city limits ready. Griffin has no city gas system, so Atlanta Gas Light owns the gas pipes. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and AGL at 877.427.4321 from outside.