Ready To Convert?
If you've already made the decision, or you're close, here's what tells us you're ready for the conversion itself.
We'll ask what unit you're considering, or help you choose one, and ask about your current gas line size, electrical panel, and where the old tank sits now. That tells us what to bring and inspect first.
We measure your gas line capacity or electrical service, confirm venting requirements, and give you a full installation quote covering the unit and any upgrades needed. You approve the plan before we start any work.
The old tank is removed, the new tankless unit is mounted, connected, and vented to code, and we test it under real flow conditions. We'll file for permit inspection where required and walk you through the unit's basic controls.
Full-Service Conversion
A tankless unit needs more than a spot on the wall. It needs enough gas or electrical capacity to fire at full output on demand, and venting rated for its higher exhaust temperature. We check both before we quote the job, not after.
We measure your actual gas line or electrical service before recommending a unit, so you're not stuck with a tankless heater that can't reach full output on demand.
Every quote includes the unit, labor, and any gas, electrical, or venting upgrades identified during our inspection. No add-ons appear after we've started.
The most common complaint we hear about tankless units isn't about the technology, it's about an install that skipped the gas line or venting check. A tankless heater that can't draw enough gas to hit full output will deliver lukewarm water under real-world demand, and the homeowner ends up blaming the unit instead of the installation.
We measure your existing gas line diameter and length, or your panel's spare capacity for an electric unit, before we ever quote a specific model. If an upsize is needed, you'll see that cost upfront, not as a surprise mid-project.
Converting from tank to tankless is more involved than a tank swap, but it's not exotic work when it's planned correctly. Here's what we check and handle on every conversion:
Did you know that approximately 9-13% of our service calls are to come out to fix other companies' mistakes?
From Downtown to the Suburbs
We've converted tank setups to tankless in older homes with original gas lines and in newer builds already wired for higher electrical loads. Every neighborhood's infrastructure is a little different, and we plan the install around what's actually there.
Diane Mcelroy
Recent Google review
I am having a weird issue with intermittent dampness in my garage. Roger spent about 1.5 hours trying to locate the problem. He assured me it was not a plumbing problem and told me not to worry about the service call.
Andrew Schaffrinna
Recent Google review
Joey was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Excellent service, excellent advice, went above and beyond by providing me with recommendations on how to prevent future issues. Highly recommend.
Kristi Lopez
Recent Google review
So happy with our new system! The team was absolutely fantastic! Thank you!
Svetla McPhie
Recent Google review
PlumbSmart was the only plumbing company that responded the same day to fix a leak. Excellent work and coordination. All over great team.
Plumbing disasters don't wait for business hours. Our expert team is ready to roll at any moment's notice, day or night, to handle your emergencies.
We remove the old tank, evaluate whether your gas line, venting, and electrical service can support the new unit, and make any upgrades required. Tankless units draw more gas or electric power at peak use than a tank does, so the existing line often needs to be resized.
Often, yes. Gas tankless units require significantly higher BTU input than a standard tank, and older gas lines aren't always sized to supply that on demand. We measure your existing line and tell you upfront if an upsize is needed as part of the installation.
Most gas tankless units require dedicated venting different from a standard tank's flue, often through a sidewall rather than up through the roof. We handle the venting install as part of the job and make sure it meets manufacturer specs and local code.
It avoids the gas line question but raises an electrical one instead. Electric tankless units draw a large amount of power at startup, which often requires a dedicated circuit or a panel upgrade. We evaluate your electrical capacity the same way we would a gas line.
A straightforward conversion where the gas line and venting already support the new unit can be done in a day. A conversion needing a gas line upsize, new venting, or electrical panel work takes longer, and we'll give you a realistic schedule once we've inspected your setup.
Did you know that approximately 9-13% of our service calls are to come out to fix other companies' mistakes?
From the Blog
Practical tips and local insights from the PlumbSmart team.
1233 Safari St, San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 810-0810Available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
By the time a homeowner calls us for a tankless install specifically, they've usually already decided tankless is right for their household. Our job at that point shifts from advising to executing the conversion correctly, starting with the gas line and venting questions that determine whether the unit performs the way it's rated to.
We measure before we quote, upsize the gas line or add electrical capacity when the numbers call for it, and vent the unit exactly to its manufacturer's spec rather than reusing whatever the old tank had.
PlumbSmart files the permit, schedules the inspection where the city requires one, and tests the unit under real flow before we consider the conversion finished. That's the difference between a tankless heater that delivers what it promised and one that leaves you disappointed.