Tankless Water Heater in Sugar Hill, GA

Sugar Hill basics

Sugar Hill is a fast-growing north Gwinnett city near Lake Lanier and the foothills, and Gwinnett's fourth-largest city. It mails as Buford (ZIP 30518), but water and sewer come from Gwinnett County, not the City of Buford. The city operates its own natural gas system, serving customers inside and outside city limits. On city gas service, all gas pipe on the house side of the meter belongs to the customer, while the city keeps the service lines, meters and valves it installs.

What to do now

1. Gas smell? Leave first. From a safe place, call 911 and the City of Sugar Hill Gas Department at (770) 271-2137, the line it lists for gas leaks.
2. Note the code. On an existing tankless unit, write down any error before resetting it.
3. Check the basics. Power to the unit, gas valve open and the outside vent clear.
4. Ask about the meter. If you are converting from a tank, a bigger burner may need a larger meter, which the city gas department controls. Customer service is (770) 945-6716.
5. Gather details. Heater age, location and number of bathrooms.
6. Know your water bill. A Buford mailing address does not mean City of Buford water; Sugar Hill homes are on Gwinnett County.

Symptoms and likely causes

Cost factors

The fact sheet has no housing-age figure for Sugar Hill, so the plumber judges each house. The biggest swing is usually gas: house piping beyond the meter is the owner's, and pipe sized for a tank may need upsizing. Vent route, condensate drainage, unit size and recirculation follow. Permits go through City of Sugar Hill Building Services at 5039 West Broad Street. Gwinnett water is soft, about 1.05 to 1.87 grains per gallon, so scale builds slowly and extra treatment is rarely needed for the heater.