Tankless Water Heater in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Rancho Cucamonga runs from the Route 66 corridor on Foothill Boulevard up into Alta Loma and Etiwanda at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. Cucamonga Valley Water District supplies the city's water, and electric service comes from either Southern California Edison or the city-owned Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility, depending on where you are. That electric detail matters if you are weighing an electric tankless unit. Here is how to approach a new install or a heater that is acting up.

What to do now

1. Decide on fuel. Most whole-house tankless units here run on SoCalGas natural gas. Electric whole-house models need very large circuits, so check your panel and talk to your electric provider before choosing one.
2. Find out your water's hardness. CVWD publishes an annual water quality report, or call the district at (909) 944-6000. Scale is the main wear item in a tankless heat exchanger.
3. Pick a location. Garage walls and exterior walls make venting simple. Homes on the upper slopes see more frost than the valley floor, so an outdoor unit needs working freeze protection.
4. Measure demand. Count the showers, tubs and appliances that run at the same time on a busy morning.
5. Plan the permit. The City's Building & Safety Division accepts permits only through its Online Permit Center, and its inspections include water heater installations. The inspection line is (909) 477-2710.

Symptoms and likely causes

What affects cost

For gas units, the biggest factors are whether the gas line from the meter needs to be enlarged, how long the vent run is and whether a condensate drain is needed. For electric units, the panel and circuit capacity often decide whether the project is practical at all. Scale protection, a recirculation pump and moving the heater to a new spot all add to the scope. If you ever smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200.