Tankless Water Heater in Alpine, CA

Signs a tankless unit is worth considering

• Your tank is aging, leaking or producing rusty hot water
• Showers run short when the whole household is home
• Propane bills for water heating seem high and you're comparing options
• An existing tankless heater has lost flow or keeps throwing codes
• You'd like to free up space in a garage or utility room

Local conditions in Alpine

Alpine is an unincorporated East County community, and its water situation is unlike most of the county. According to the County's Alpine Community Plan Update EIR, Padre Dam Municipal Water District serves only the central-western part of the plan area. The remainder, about 81 percent of the area by land, depends on private wells or small water systems. Well water carries its own mix of minerals and sometimes sediment, so a whole-house tankless unit on a well typically needs a sediment filter ahead of it, a water test to judge hardness, and service valves for flushing. Well pump pressure also has to hold steady enough for the unit to fire reliably.

The same EIR notes that SDG&E provides gas throughout San Diego County but doesn't say whether gas mains reach every Alpine parcel. Some homes here may be on propane or all-electric, which changes the choices: a propane-rated tankless unit, an electric model that may need a larger electrical service, or a high-efficiency tank. Alpine's median home dates to about 1986, and roughly 38 percent were built before 1980. Higher-elevation nights can freeze exposed pipes, so outdoor units need constant power for freeze protection.

What affects the cost

• Fuel. Utility gas, propane and electric units each bring different supply work.
• Water treatment. Wells often call for sediment filtration and possibly softening.
• Venting and location. A garage wall vent is simpler than a long run.
• Freeze protection. Insulation and heat on exposed lines for outdoor units.
• Permit. Alpine is unincorporated, so permits go through the County of San Diego.

What happens when you call

You'll reach an independent plumber who works in Alpine. Mention whether you're on district water or a well, what fuel the house uses and where the heater sits now. If you smell gas, leave the house first, then call 911 and SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343 from a safe distance; if your home uses propane, call 911 and your propane supplier.