Tankless water heater installation cost

One national cost guide puts a tankless water heater installation at roughly $1,333 to $3,721, with an average of about $2,527, covering the unit, labor and typical extras. Since that is a national number, use it as a rough marker. Around Burbank and the San Fernando Valley, the actual bill turns on the gas line, the venting and taking out the old heater. The page belongs to the wider guide to water heater repair and replacement and deals strictly with cost.

How much do plumbers charge to flush a water heater?

A flush is mostly labor, and we have not found a reliable published price for a flush alone. Plumbers commonly charge about $45 to $200 an hour, and many tack on a trip charge of about $100 to $350, which means a lone flush is often billed as one hour of labor plus any trip charge.

Have the quote written down and see what it takes in: draining, sediment flushing, an anode and relief valve check, and refilling. Hard Valley water leaves sediment behind, and a flush is routine upkeep for a tank heater. A tankless unit gets descaled instead, a separate job with its own price. Neither justifies replacing a heater that still works.

What does tankless water heater installation cost in total?

One national guide lists installation at about $1,333 to $3,721, with an average near $2,527. Gas units commonly show $1,000 to $1,500 for materials and labor and electric $800 to $1,500, while labor for the whole job runs around $600 to $1,850. Venting, gas line work and removal are extra.

These pieces do not add up cleanly, since each guide counts them its own way. Read the table as a rough picture of where the money goes.

The figures come from national guides checked in November 2026, so Burbank prices may differ. The number that counts is the one on your written quote.

What does a tank to tankless conversion cost?

Going from a tank to tankless costs more than swapping one tank for another. One guide puts a standard replacement at $150 to $450 in labor but a conversion at up to $2,500. The gap comes from gas line sizing, venting, power supply and pipework.

A tankless unit uses far more gas at once than a tank, so the existing gas line may be too small. ENERGY STAR tells buyers to have a professional check that the natural gas line is adequate, confirm access to electricity for models with forced ventilation, and decide how the exhaust will be vented. Each of those can add to the bill, which is why conversion quotes vary so much.

If you already own a tankless unit and need it replaced, go to tankless water heater replacement cost.

How much does it cost to replace a standard 50 gallon water heater?

A national guide says electric water heater replacements cost $600 to $3,500 on average and gas replacements $700 to $2,700, with a standard replacement labor charge of about $150 to $450. It gives no clean price per tank size, and an invented figure would not help you. A 40 gallon tank is the most common size.

Larger tanks cost more to buy, and a 60 to 80 gallon tank is suggested for homes with more than five people. For a 40, 50 or 75 gallon heater in Burbank, the price depends on the brand, fuel, efficiency, venting and permit. On the tank side, read water heater replacement cost and the gas water heater replacement cost guide.

What do water heater valves and repairs cost?

Valves and repairs are a small share of the cost, and no published guide we could verify gives a clean price per valve. A plumber cost guide lists water heater repairs alone at $250 to $975, and water heater installation or repair overall at $250 to $5,500. The valve part is low cost, so the visit drives the price.

If the heater is old, a gas valve, relief valve or drain valve repair is worth weighing against replacement. We have separate pages for gas valve replacement, pressure relief valve replacement and drain valve replacement.

What affects the price of tankless water heater installation?

Fuel type, flow rate, brand and where the heater goes matter most. Gas units suit larger homes and can deliver far more hot water per minute than electric ones. Venting through a wall or roof, gas line upsizing, a new condensate drain, and difficult access all add cost. So does removing the old heater and any permit.

The most useful way to size a unit is to add up the flow of the fixtures you run together. ENERGY STAR gives average flow rates of 2.5 gallons a minute for a shower, 3.3 for a clothes washer, 2.2 for a sink and 1.3 for a dishwasher. One guide says the average home needs roughly 5.5 to 7.5 gallons a minute, and that a home needing more than 198,000 BTUs may need two smaller units. A plumber sizes it properly on site. If the unit is condensing, see our page on condensing tankless installation for the extra requirements.

Does a permit add to the cost, and who issues it?

A permit is typically a small line item, and a national guide puts it around $50 to $100. Water heater work usually needs a permit in California cities, and the permit comes from the city building office, which is the Building Division in Burbank and, for addresses within LA city limits, the Department of Building and Safety.

Confirm the requirement with your city. The state energy code is updated every three years, and the California Energy Commission says the 2025 standards took effect on January 1, 2026, so find out from the plumber which rules cover your install. The steps are laid out in the water heater permit in Burbank.

Is tankless worth the higher installation price?

It can be, but not always. Tankless heaters heat water only when you ask for it, which can cut standby losses. A comparison of average efficiencies on Wikipedia lists about 80 percent for tankless and about 60 percent for a tank on natural gas, though real savings depend on use. Higher installation cost means a longer payback.

If you are comparing the two, our guide to tankless versus tank water heaters sets out the trade offs. Hot summers in the Valley and homes with several bathrooms both change the answer, so ask for a quote for each option before you decide.

How do you get a fair quote?

Insist on a written quote listing the heater model, fuel, flow rate, venting, gas line work, permit, disposal of the old unit plus warranty paperwork. Line quotes up against the same scope, because a cheap price that omits venting or the gas line can cost more in the end.

Plumbers we arrange cover Burbank, Glendale and the nearby Valley, and the price is put in writing before work begins. Request a quote with details of your current heater, its fuel and its location. Our other services are on the home page.

Questions people ask

How long does a tankless water heater installation take?

One guide puts it at close to 3 hours of labor for a typical job. Gas line upsizing, new venting or a hard to reach location can stretch that into a full day. Expect a time estimate with the quote, once the plumber has seen where the heater will sit.

What should I ask before I hire someone to install a tankless water heater?

Find out which gas line size the unit needs and if that work is in the price, how exhaust gets vented, if a permit is included, and where the old heater goes. Request the model number so you can read the maker's specifications yourself.

Do I need to be home for the installation?

An adult should be home to admit the plumber, approve any price change and inspect the finished work. Hot water is interrupted for part of the day, and the gas meter and electrical panel may need to be reachable.

Can I install a tankless water heater myself?

For gas models, no. Gas piping and venting work, and the permit that goes with it, belongs with a plumber who has a California contractor license, as errors risk a gas leak or carbon monoxide. If gas is in the air, step outside before you phone SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200, and use 911 if people are at risk.

Is there a free estimate?

The price reaches you in writing ahead of any work. Whether it covers a diagnostic visit, or that visit is billed separately, varies by plumber and job. Raise it when you request the quote and keep the answer on paper.