"People focus so much on gas lines, they sometimes forget tankless units have specific venting requirements."
Yep, learned that one the hard way myself. When we switched to tankless a couple years ago, I was so focused on getting the right gas line sizing and making sure it was safe and efficient (eco-friendly homeowner here, safety first!), that I totally overlooked venting. Thought we'd just reuse the old vent pipes—big mistake. Turns out the new unit needed special stainless steel vents due to higher exhaust temps. Cue an unexpected weekend without hot water while waiting for parts...
Also, good call on homeowners underestimating the hassle of upgrading gas lines. Our house isn't even that old, but the existing line was undersized once we added a gas stove and dryer into the mix. Watching the plumber crawl around our cramped attic space wasn't exactly fun for anyone involved.
Glad your install went smoothly though—sounds like you dodged some common pitfalls!
Same here, venting caught me off guard too. I budgeted carefully for the gas line upgrade, but then realized the stainless steel vent pipes were pricier than expected. Ended up DIY-ing some drywall repairs afterward just to balance things out...lesson learned, I guess.
I get the DIY drywall fix, been there myself...but honestly, sometimes biting the bullet upfront saves headaches later. Ever thought about a tankless heater? Higher initial cost, sure, but lower venting hassle and way better efficiency long-term. Might balance out eventually.
Tankless heaters do have their perks, but they're not always the best fit. I've found that in older properties, the electrical upgrades needed can offset those efficiency savings pretty quickly...something to consider depending on your setup.
"I've found that in older properties, the electrical upgrades needed can offset those efficiency savings pretty quickly...something to consider depending on your setup."
Yeah, that's a good point. I ran into something similar when we switched to tankless at my parents' old house. The wiring was ancient—like cloth-covered ancient—and the electrician said we'd basically have to redo half the panel and add circuits just to handle the new heater. It ended up costing way more than we expected, and honestly, I'm not sure if we've even broken even yet on those promised energy savings.
On the flip side, in my own place (built in the 90s), it was pretty straightforward and definitely worth it. No rusty water or leaks since then either, which is a relief after dealing with that mess at my folks'. So yeah, it's really about knowing your home's quirks before diving in.
