Tankless Water Heater Installation

Endless Hot Water, Installed Right the First Time

If you're tired of the last person in the shower getting cold water, or you're staring at a tank heater that's past its tenth birthday, a tankless water heater is worth a serious look. It heats water only when you open a tap, so there's no 50-gallon tank burning energy all night, and no running out when the dishwasher and two showers are going at once.

Getting there is more than hanging a box on the wall. A tankless unit has to be sized for the way your household actually uses hot water, fed by a gas line or electrical circuit that can keep up, vented correctly, and permitted with your county. That's the work we do.

Jonathan Johns, licensed master plumber and Navien Certified Service Specialist, personally installs tankless water heaters for homeowners in China Grove, Concord, Mooresville, Kannapolis, Salisbury, and the surrounding Rowan, Cabarrus, and Iredell County communities. Call (704) 798-2659 or schedule online.

Is Tankless the Right Move for Your Home?

It usually is — but not always, and we'll tell you either way. Tankless makes the most sense when:

• Your tank heater is 10+ years old and you're already facing a replacement
• Your family regularly runs out of hot water, or has to schedule showers around laundry
• You want to reclaim the closet or garage space a tank takes up
• You're planning to stay in the home long enough for the energy savings to add up
• You have a larger home (or a Lake Norman waterfront home with a second-story master bath) where a single tank can't keep up

If you have a small household, a tight budget, or a tank that still has years left, a quality tank water heater may be the better call, and we'll say so. For the real numbers over 20 years of ownership, read our breakdown of the true cost of tankless vs. tank water heaters.

What's Included in a Macaw Tankless Installation

Every tankless install we do covers the full scope, not just the unit. That's why our tankless pricing is a real installed number, not a starting-at figure.

• Sizing for your home. Jonathan calculates your peak hot-water demand — how many fixtures run at the same time, and how cold your incoming water gets in January — and matches the unit's flow rate to it. An undersized tankless is the number one cause of "my tankless doesn't work."
• Gas line assessment and upsizing. A gas tankless unit draws far more gas in a short burst than a tank heater does, and many homes need the line upsized from the meter. We handle that as part of the job. See our gas line installation and repair page for details.
• Electrical for electric units. Electric tankless heaters typically need dedicated high-amperage circuits. Jonathan confirms what your panel can support before recommending electric.
• Venting. Gas units vent directly outdoors through approved PVC or stainless pipe, with code-required clearances from windows and doors. Our guide to tankless water heater ventilation walks through the options.
• Condensate drain, isolation valves, and expansion tank. Condensing units need a condensate line. Every unit we install gets isolation valves with service ports, so annual descaling is a 45-minute flush instead of a repipe.
• Permit and inspection. A tank-to-tankless conversion changes fuel load, venting, and location, which means Cabarrus, Rowan, and Iredell Counties typically require a permit. Jonathan pulls it and meets the inspector.
• Removal and haul-away of your old tank.
• Startup and walkthrough. Before he leaves, Jonathan sets the temperature, shows you the filter and the shutoffs, and explains the maintenance schedule.

Gas or Electric? Sizing for the Way Your Family Uses Hot Water

Tankless units are rated in gallons per minute (GPM): how much hot water they can deliver at once. A shower uses about 2 GPM. Run two showers and a kitchen faucet together and you're at 5 to 6 GPM. In winter, when the incoming water from Lake Norman or a Rowan County well is much colder, the unit has to work harder to raise the temperature, so the same heater delivers less flow.

That's why Jonathan sizes from your household, not from a chart. Gas units generally deliver higher flow rates and suit larger homes; electric units are simpler to install and work well for smaller homes and additions.

Two things specific to our area come up on nearly every install:

• Hard water and well water. Mineral scale is what shortens a tankless heater's life. If you're on a well or on hard municipal water, Jonathan will talk with you about water filtration and treatment so the new unit stays efficient.
• Long pipe runs. Larger homes and waterfront homes with a far-off master bath can wait a long time for hot water to arrive. A recirculation system pairs with a tankless unit to deliver hot water at the tap in seconds — our recirculating systems guide explains how.

What Installation Day Looks Like

1. On-site assessment. Jonathan checks fuel type, existing venting, gas line size, water pressure and hardness, panel capacity, and where the unit can live. The $94 service call fee is waived when you move forward with the install.
2. A straight number before we start. You get one installed price that covers the unit, labor, venting, valves, permit, and any gas line or electrical work identified during the visit. No add-ons on install day.
3. Installation. Most tank-to-tankless conversions finish in a single visit, typically three to five hours. Jobs that need a new vent path through a roof or exterior wall, a gas line run from the meter, or a new electrical circuit take longer, and Jonathan tells you that up front.
4. Inspection. Where a permit is required, we schedule the county inspection and are there for it.
5. Startup and walkthrough. Jonathan commissions the unit, tests every fixture, and shows you how to operate and maintain it.

What Tankless Installation Costs

We publish our prices because we'd rather you know the number before you call than get a surprise after.

• New tankless install (converting from a tank): $5,877 – $7,910 installed
• Tankless swap-out (replacing an existing tankless unit): $5,050 – $7,090 installed
• Service call / consultation: $94, waived when you move forward
• After-hours fee: $189 after 7:00 PM and on Saturdays

Financing is available; rates and terms are based on credit. Where you land in the range depends on unit size, gas line and venting work, and whether your home needs a condensate drain or electrical upgrade. See the full water heater and tankless pricing page for what's included and what moves the number.

Why Homeowners Choose Jonathan for the Install

• The plumber who quotes it installs it. Macaw is owner-operated. Jonathan does the assessment, the install, the inspection, and the walkthrough. You're never explaining your house to a dispatcher.
• Navien Certified Service Specialist. Navien is our primary recommendation for most homes, and Jonathan is factory-certified on it. He installs and services other leading tankless brands when they're the better fit.
• NC State License #L.35944 — P1 Unlimited Plumbers License with Well Seal Certification, the highest residential plumbing license in North Carolina. Fully insured.
• 300+ tankless systems installed, repaired, and maintained across the Rowan-Cabarrus-Iredell corridor. Jonathan has seen how these units behave on our water, in our winters, in our housing stock.
• Honest recommendations. If tankless isn't right for your home, we'll tell you. If your existing tankless unit can be repaired instead of replaced, we'll tell you that too.
• Family-owned. MACAW is the initials of Jonathan and Sierra's five kids. We treat your home the way we'd want someone to treat ours. Read what your neighbors say, or meet the family.

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Where We Install Tankless Water Heaters

Macaw is based in China Grove and installs tankless water heaters across Rowan, Cabarrus, and southern Iredell Counties:

• China Grove — our home base, plus Landis, Rockwell, and Enochville
• Concord — see our Concord tankless installation page, plus Harrisburg and Mt. Pleasant
• Kannapolis
• Salisbury — see our Salisbury tankless installation page
• Mooresville and the Lake Norman area, including Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, and Troutman — read why Lake Norman waterfront homes are such a strong fit for tankless

Not sure if you're in range? Check our service area or call (704) 798-2659.

After the Install: Keeping It Running

A tankless water heater should last 20 years or more, but only with an annual descaling flush, especially on hard or well water. We install every unit with service valves so that flush is quick, and we offer tankless water heater maintenance and repair when it's time. If you go with Navien, our Navien maintenance guide covers what to expect year to year.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to install a tankless water heater?

For a tank-to-tankless conversion, our installed price is $5,877 to $7,910. Replacing an existing tankless unit runs $5,050 to $7,090. Those numbers include the unit, labor, venting, isolation valves, permit, and any gas line or electrical work identified during the assessment. Full details are on our pricing page.

Can a tankless water heater run two showers at once?

Yes, if it's sized for it. Two showers plus a faucet is roughly 5 to 6 gallons per minute, and in winter the unit needs more capacity to hit the same temperature because incoming water is colder. Jonathan sizes from your peak simultaneous use, and for large homes may recommend a higher-flow gas unit or a second unit.

What's the downside of a tankless water heater?

Higher upfront cost than a tank, a short delay before hot water reaches distant fixtures (a recirculation system fixes that), and a need for annual descaling on hard water. If any of those outweigh the benefits for your home, we'll tell you and point you to a tank replacement instead.

Do I need a plumber to install a tankless water heater, or can I do it myself?

In North Carolina, a tankless conversion involves gas line sizing, venting, and typically a county permit and inspection, which is work that needs a licensed plumber. A DIY install can void the manufacturer's warranty and, with gas, creates carbon monoxide risk if the venting is wrong. Jonathan is licensed and factory-certified, and the install is inspected and warrantied.

Do I need a permit for a tankless water heater installation?

Usually, yes. Changing from a tank to a tankless unit changes the fuel load, venting, and often the location, which Cabarrus, Rowan, and Iredell Counties treat differently from a like-for-like tank swap. Jonathan pulls the permit and handles the inspection as part of the install.

How long does installation take?

Most installs finish in one visit, three to five hours. A new gas line from the meter, a new vent path through a roof or exterior wall, or a new electrical circuit can add time. You'll know the realistic timeline before work starts.

Gas or electric — which should I choose?

Gas units deliver higher flow rates and lower operating costs in most homes, making them the usual pick for families and larger houses. Electric units are simpler to install and a good fit for smaller homes, additions, or homes without gas service, provided the electrical panel can support them. Jonathan will assess both during your visit.

Ready to Go Tankless?

Whether you're replacing a failing tank or finally solving the cold-shower problem for good, the first step is a quick assessment. Call Jonathan at (704) 798-2659, email contact@macawplumbing.com, or schedule online. Honest assessment, a straight number, and the same plumber from start to finish.

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM. Emergency service Monday–Friday 5 PM–10 PM (on call) and Saturday 8 AM–10 PM.

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