Tankless Water Heater in Colton, CA

Colton, the Hub City, runs its own water and wastewater utilities. Drinking water is mostly groundwater from seven city wells in three basins, with backup from the City of Rialto and, when needed, treated groundwater from the City of San Bernardino. The City's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report puts total hardness for Colton/Rialto sources at an average of 206.67 mg/L, with a range of 150 to 230 mg/L. That is hard water, and it is the biggest local factor for a tankless heater.

What to do now

1. Plan for scale from the start. At about 207 mg/L, a softener or scale cartridge plus isolation valves for yearly flushing is the norm.
2. Check the home's age. Census survey figures show about 51.5% of Colton homes were built before 1980 (median 1979). Older homes often need a larger gas line and a dedicated vent.
3. Measure hot water demand. Count fixtures that run at once to size the unit, and size for winter, when incoming water is coldest.
4. Pull a permit. The City of Colton requires a building permit to replace, relocate or install a water heater. Building & Safety is at (909) 370-5079.
5. Keep the utility numbers handy. For water main or service line problems after hours, Colton's line is (909) 370-5000.

Symptoms and likely causes

Cost factors

• Scale protection sized for Colton's hard water
• Gas line upgrades in pre-1980 homes
• Replacing a shared flue with a dedicated vent
• Condensate drain for condensing models
• Moving the heater out of an interior closet to a garage or exterior wall

Colton's Wastewater Department collects and treats the city's sewage, so a condensate line or softener discharge goes to the same city system as the rest of the house. If you smell gas near the heater, leave the house first, then call 911 and SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from outside.