A tankless water heater can suit a Sun City home, especially for owners who spend part of the year away. EPCOR's water here is moderately hard at 7 to 11 grains per gallon, and because Sun City is unincorporated, Maricopa County no longer requires a permit to replace an existing water heater. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Sun City.
What happens when you call
You'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in Sun City. Tell them whether the current heater is gas or electric, where it sits (garage, carport closet or inside the house), and how many people normally live there. If you're a seasonal resident, mention when you'll be away; that affects how the unit is set up and shut down. For a unit that's misbehaving, the error code and model number help the plumber bring the right parts.
What affects the cost
- Fuel and supply. A gas tankless unit may need a larger gas line; an electric model may need new circuits or a panel upgrade.
- Location. Reusing the old tank's spot is simplest. Moving the heater to an exterior wall changes pipe and vent work.
- Older plumbing. Homes from the community's early decades can have aging valves and connectors that should be replaced during the swap.
- Size of unit. One- and two-person households can often use a smaller unit.
- Inspection. Optional with the County, if you want one.
Sun City conditions
Del Webb opened Sun City in 1960, and it remains an unincorporated retirement community popular with snowbirds, bordered by Peoria, Youngtown, El Mirage and Surprise. EPCOR serves Sun City and Youngtown from one groundwater system drawn from the West Salt River Valley sub-basin, with chlorine disinfection and hardness of 7 to 11 grains per gallon. That's moderate for the Valley; a yearly flush usually keeps a tankless heat exchanger clean.
Because there's no city government, permits come from Maricopa County Planning and Development. The County says a permit is no longer required to replace an existing water heater installed to the manufacturer's specifications, though you can request one if you want an inspection. New gas lines are a separate County permit. We didn't find an official page naming Sun City's gas utility, so use the one on your bill.
Before the plumber arrives
- Find the water shutoff and the heater's gas or power shutoff
- Clear storage away from the heater
- Have your EPCOR bill handy
- Note any travel dates so the unit can be set up for time away
If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 and your gas utility from outside; propane users call 911 and their propane supplier.
Tankless Water Heaters questions in Sun City
Do I need a permit to switch from a tank to a tankless water heater?
Can a tankless heater freeze on a rare cold night?
Will a tankless unit fit where the old tank sat in the garage?
Is an electric tankless heater practical for an all-electric home?
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