Water Heaters
Is a Tankless Water Heater Worth It in Northern Nevada?
By S&S Mechanical Team, Union-trained plumbers & pipefitters ·
Short answer: For most Northern Nevada families of three or more, yes. A properly sized tankless water heater lasts about 20 years, delivers endless hot water and cuts water-heating energy by roughly 20–30%. The catch: our winter inlet water can drop below 45°F, so the unit must be sized for that, and the gas line often needs upsizing.
Sizing for our cold winter water
Tankless heaters are rated by how much they can raise water temperature at a given flow. In January, inlet water in the Truckee Meadows can sit around 40–45°F. To deliver 120°F water to two showers and a dishwasher at once, most homes need a 180,000–199,000 BTU unit.
Gas line and venting requirements
A tankless unit draws more gas than a 40,000 BTU tank. Many older Reno homes have a 1/2" line that must be upsized to 3/4" or more. Venting is usually PVC or concentric, which can actually make installation easier than a tank heater with a metal flue.
Maintenance is not optional here
Hard water scales a tankless heat exchanger quickly. We recommend a vinegar descale every 12 months. Skipping it is the number-one cause of error codes and premature failure we see on Rinnai, Navien and Noritz units.
