A tankless water heater fits many Grand Terrace homes, but more than half the city's houses predate 1980, so gas supply and venting usually need attention. The City requires a permit for water heaters. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Grand Terrace.
Signs to watch
- Rusty or discolored hot water while the cold side runs clear
- A heater that takes a long time to recover after a bath
- Moisture or a slow drip under the tank
- An existing tankless unit that cycles on and off at low flow
- You want to reclaim the space a tank occupies in a small garage
Grand Terrace conditions
Grand Terrace is a small hillside city between Riverside and San Bernardino, with Blue Mountain to the east and the La Loma Hills to the west. Census survey figures report a median year built of 1978, with about 56% of homes built before 1980 and the biggest building waves in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Houses from those decades tend to have gas branches and vents sized for a tank, which is the main thing a tankless conversion has to fix.
The City names Riverside Highland Water Company as its water provider. The water company's annual report lists the hardness, so ask for it, or have the plumber run a quick test. Groundwater supplies in this part of the valley are often hard, and scale is the main long-term threat to a tankless heat exchanger. Wastewater from Grand Terrace is treated at the City of Colton's plant.
The City's Building & Safety FAQ lists water heaters, re-piping and water softeners among the plumbing jobs that need a permit, so a tankless unit plus a softener means both pieces are covered by permit.
What affects the cost
- Gas pipe sizing from the meter, which in hillside lots may be a long run
- Whether the vent can exit a nearby wall or must go through the roof
- Condensate drainage for high-efficiency models
- Adding a softener or scale cartridge
What happens when you call
We connect you with an independent plumber who works in Grand Terrace. Be ready to describe the heater's location, the home's age and how many people use hot water at peak times. The plumber can pull the permit from Building & Safety at 22795 Barton Rd., (909) 954-5181. Smell gas? Leave right away, and call 911 and SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 once you are outdoors.
Tankless Water Heaters questions in Grand Terrace
Do I need a permit to switch to a tankless water heater?
Will my gas line need to be upsized for a tankless unit?
Is a softener or scale filter worth adding ahead of a tankless heater?
Why does my tankless heater shut off at low flow?
More plumbing services in Grand Terrace
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