At a glance
- Best for
- Long-term owners, big households
- Vegas rule
- Descale every year
- Must have
- Isolation service valves
- Gas
- Line may need upsizing
- Pricing
- Quoted by the plumber before work
Who tankless suits
Households that run out of hot water, houses where the garage tank takes space you want back, and anyone replacing a heater in a house they plan to keep for ten years or more. The unit costs more up front and makes it back slowly on gas bills. If you move in three years, a tank is the cheaper choice.
The Las Vegas condition: descaling
Scale forms inside the heat exchanger. In most cities a tankless unit is descaled every two or three years. In Las Vegas it is every year, and the installer should fit isolation valves with service ports so the flush takes twenty minutes instead of a plumbing job. Ask for them specifically. A unit without service valves in this water is a unit that will be replaced early.
Gas supply and venting
A gas tankless unit draws far more gas while running than a tank does, often needing a larger gas line from the meter. Condensing units vent through PVC; non-condensing units need stainless venting. Both must terminate outside. Clark County requires a permit, and the inspector checks the gas sizing and the vent.
What to ask the installer
Whether the gas line is adequate or needs upsizing, whether service valves are included, which model and flow rate they recommend for your fixtures, whether the permit is in the quote, and how the warranty registration is handled.
Your questions
Will a tankless heater last longer than a tank in Las Vegas?
Only if it is descaled every year. Maintained, it outlasts a tank. Neglected, hard water shortens its life to about what a tank gives.
Is the hot water really endless?
For one shower, yes. Two showers and a dishwasher at once can exceed the flow rate of a smaller unit. The installer sizes the unit to your fixtures.
Can I switch from a tank to tankless in a day?
Usually, if the gas line is adequate and the vent path is straightforward. Gas upsizing adds time.