Tankless Water Heater in Brookhaven, GA

Does a tankless swap in Brookhaven need a permit?

Yes. The city's permit FAQ states that replacing a water heater requires a permit and inspections covering the plumbing and gas codes, and that a tradesperson doing it needs a state license. Moving from a tank to a tankless unit usually changes gas piping and venting, so it clearly falls inside that rule. Permits are applied for, paid and tracked through the Community Development Department's online portal, and inspections are scheduled the same way.

Will my Brookhaven house need new gas pipe or venting?

That depends on when it was built. Brookhaven's median build year is 1994, but about 30% of homes predate 1980, including roughly 9% from the 1950s. Ranches and cottages in Historic Brookhaven and Lynwood Park often have small-diameter gas pipe sized for a tank and a furnace, and a heater in an interior closet. A tankless burner needs much more gas at full fire, so a new run from the meter is common, and the vent has to reach an outside wall within the maker's length limits. Newer townhomes and infill houses tend to be simpler.

Atlanta Gas Light owns the street pipes and meter; you buy gas from a marketer. If the meter itself needs a larger capacity, that request goes to AGL.

Is DeKalb water hard on a tankless unit?

DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management owns Brookhaven's water mains and meters and treats Chattahoochee River water at the Scott Candler plant. Its water report does not state hardness, so test before you decide on a softener or a flush schedule. Yearly descaling is a sensible starting point. Note that DeKalb maintains the line through the meter, and the line from the meter to the house is the owner's, which matters if a plumber finds a supply problem during the install.

One more Brookhaven note

If you ever smell gas near the heater, leave the house first, call 911 from a safe spot, then Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321. Do not try to relight a tankless unit or reset the gas valve with an odor present.