Water heater · Devin Brooks
Tank replacement, customer asks about tankless
Product manager at a software company, working from home today. Friendly and quick, and he has already read a lot about this job online.
What you know walking in
Estimate. Homeowner reports a small puddle under the water heater and has been reading about tankless water heaters. 50-gallon gas tank in the garage of a two-story house. Not a member.
- 50-gallon atmospheric gas water heater, 11 yrs
- Gas supply to the water heater
- Pressure regulator on the main line
What you found
- There is rust at the base and a slow seep from under the jacket. The tank is at the end of its life and should be replaced.
- There is no expansion tank, and the house has a pressure regulator. Code requires one on the new install.
- The gas line to the water heater is 1/2 inch, sized for a tank. A tankless unit would need a larger line from the meter, and possibly a larger meter from the gas company.
- The existing vent works for a new tank. A condensing tankless would need new PVC venting through the wall and a 120-volt outlet.
- There is white scale on the fittings, a sign of hard water. A tankless unit here would need descaling about once a year.
Your price book for this job
50-gallon standard gas, 6-year warranty Fits this home
New 50-gallon gas water heater · Thermal expansion tank · Two seismic straps · New gas connector and sediment trap · Permit and haul-away
$2,150
or $55/mo
50-gallon gas, 10-year warranty
Everything in the standard option · Longer 10-year tank and parts warranty · New cold-water shutoff valve
$2,790
or $72/mo
Condensing tankless gas, 12-year heat exchanger warranty
199,000 BTU condensing tankless water heater · Larger gas line from the meter · PVC venting through the wall and a 120-volt outlet · Isolation valves for yearly descaling · Coordination with the gas company if a larger meter is needed · Permit and haul-away of the old tank
$5,450
or $140/mo
The honest fit is marked. Recommend what the home needs, and only that.
Your goal
Correct the tankless claims respectfully with facts about this house, recommend the tank as the honest fit, and present tankless fairly as a choice.
Difficulty: Real world
Plan you can offer
- Summit Care Club$19.95 a month
Speak naturally. Devin hears you, reacts to how you say things, and remembers. Headphones make it feel real.