Tankless Water Heater in Stonecrest, GA

Signs it is time to act

• A builder-installed tank that is reaching the end of its life
• Hot water that gives out partway through the evening
• Moisture, rust or a rumble from the tank
• Error codes or flame failures on an existing tankless unit
• A long wait for hot water at an upstairs bathroom

Stonecrest conditions

Stonecrest became a city in 2017 and is the largest city entirely within DeKalb County. It is largely suburban, built around The Mall at Stonecrest and I-20, with the Arabia Mountain heritage area to the south. Mail is often addressed to Lithonia. Housing figures for the 30038 ZIP show about 23% of houses built before 1980, so most homes are newer and usually keep the heater in a garage or basement with an outside wall nearby. That makes room for a wall-hung tankless unit and a short vent.

DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management supplies water from the Chattahoochee River, treated at the Scott Candler plant. The report does not list hardness, so a home test helps set the flush schedule. DeKalb's service line inventory lets you look up your line material, and its 24-hour emergency repair line is 770-270-6243.

Atlanta Gas Light is almost certainly the pipe utility, though it was not confirmed by ZIP; check your gas bill. A larger meter for a tankless burner is arranged through the gas utility.

What affects the cost

• Gas line size from the meter to the unit
• Vent route and length
• Condensate drain for condensing units
• Unit capacity and recirculation for two-story homes
• The city building permit, with plumbing listed as subcontracted work
• Moving the heater from an interior closet to an exterior wall, which adds piping

For an existing tankless unit, a flush and inlet screen cleaning is a small job, while a failed heat exchanger on an older unit can tip the decision toward replacement.

When you call

An independent plumber who covers east DeKalb will ask about the heater's age, fuel type and the number of bathrooms. Stonecrest's Building Department is at 3120 Stonecrest Boulevard, Suite 190, and takes applications through Citizenserve. If you smell gas, leave the house first, then call 911 and Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321 from away from the house.