Endless Hot Water Without the Tank
A standard 40 or 50 gallon tank keeps water hot around the clock, whether anyone is home or not. When it runs dry halfway through the second shower, everyone waits. A tankless water heater works differently. It heats water only when a tap opens, so the supply keeps going as long as you need it.
Bow Tie Plumbing & Rooter installs tankless water heaters for homeowners in Rancho Cucamonga and across the Inland Empire. We size the unit to your household, confirm your gas line and venting can support it, and pull the required permit so the job is done right the first time. If your current water heater is aging or already failing, now is a good time to look at going tankless.
Ready to go tankless? Call 909-804-8000 or request service online to talk through your options.
Is a Tankless Water Heater Right for Your Home?
Tankless units make the most sense for households that keep running out of hot water, want lower operating costs, or could use the space a tank takes up. In a lot of Inland Empire homes, the water heater sits in the garage. A wall-mounted tankless unit gives that corner back.
The efficiency gains are real. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that homes using 41 gallons of hot water or less per day can see 24% to 34% better efficiency with an on-demand unit, and 8% to 14% for homes that use closer to 86 gallons a day. DOE also puts tankless life expectancy at more than 20 years, compared with 10 to 15 years for a storage tank.
There are tradeoffs worth knowing up front:
- Higher upfront cost. The unit and installation cost more than a standard tank replacement, especially when gas or venting upgrades are needed. Financing options can help spread out the cost.
- Flow rate limits. A tankless heater delivers a set number of gallons per minute. Run more fixtures than it is rated for and the temperature drops, which is why sizing matters.
- Power dependence. Gas tankless units need electricity to run their controls, so they will not heat water during a power outage.
For a side-by-side breakdown, read our guide to tank versus tankless water heaters, or learn how to compare models in Understanding Water Heater Efficiency Ratings.
What a Proper Tankless Installation Includes
Swapping a tank for a tankless unit is rarely a one-for-one exchange. Most of the work happens behind the unit itself.
- Sizing to your household. We look at how many fixtures your family runs at once and how much the incoming water needs to be heated, then match a unit with enough flow rate to keep up.
- Gas line capacity. A whole-home gas tankless unit can draw several times the gas of a standard tank at full fire. If your existing line is undersized, we handle the gas line upgrade so the heater gets the supply it needs.
- Venting and condensate. Tankless units need their own venting. High-efficiency condensing models also need a drain line for condensate. We route both to code.
- Water pressure check. The California Plumbing Code calls for a pressure regulator when incoming water pressure exceeds 80 psi. We test your pressure and recommend a water pressure regulator if your home needs one.
- Permit and removal. We pull the required permit and take your old tank out so you are not left dealing with it.
Protecting Your Tankless From Inland Empire Hard Water
Hard water is the biggest threat to a tankless heater’s lifespan. As water heats inside the heat exchanger, calcium and magnesium come out of solution and cling to the walls. Over time that scale restricts flow, cuts efficiency, and can trigger error codes or shutdowns.
Two habits keep a tankless unit running for the long haul. The first is regular descaling, usually once a year in hard water homes, which flushes mineral buildup out of the heat exchanger. The second is treating the water before it reaches the heater with a water softener or filtration system. Our membership plans are an easy way to stay on a regular maintenance schedule.
Curious how much mineral content you are working with? Read Is Hard Water Quietly Wrecking Your Rancho Cucamonga Plumbing?
Already Have a Tankless Unit?
If your tankless heater is throwing error codes, running lukewarm, or not firing at all, our plumbers repair tank and tankless systems alike. See our water heater repair and replacement services, or check What to Do When Your Water Heater Fails for steps you can take before we arrive.
Tankless Installation Across the Inland Empire
Bow Tie Plumbing & Rooter is a licensed plumbing company (License #1066845) based in Rancho Cucamonga and a listed contractor in A.O. Smith’s Find a Pro directory. We install tankless water heaters in Upland, Ontario, Fontana, Claremont, Alta Loma, and the rest of our service area.
Call 909-804-8000 or contact us online to schedule your tankless water heater installation.
Yes, as long as demand stays within the unit’s flow rate. A properly sized unit handles the showers, dishwasher, and laundry most households run at the same time. If demand goes past that rating, the water temperature drops until some fixtures shut off.
A straightforward replacement in the same location can often be finished in a day. Jobs that need a new gas line, new venting, or a relocated unit take longer. We will give you a realistic timeline once we see your setup.
Price depends on the unit, your household’s hot water demand, and whether gas or venting upgrades are needed. We quote the full job after looking at your current setup. Financing options are available to help spread out the cost.
Yes. Annual descaling is the most important task in hard water areas like ours, along with cleaning the inlet water filter. Skipping it shortens the life of the heat exchanger.
