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Tankless Water Heaters | DIY

By: Anthony Navarro
November 30th, 2023

Looking to get started on flushing your tankless water heater on your own? Isolation valves are a crucial part of the flushing process, but there’s a chance your tankless water heater doesn’t have these valves. Luckily, it’s totally possible to still flush your tankless water heater without isolation valves under certain conditions.

Tankless Water Heaters | DIY

By: Anthony Navarro
September 13th, 2023

If you have a tankless water heater, it's important to know that flushing your tankless water heater is vital to keeping it running smoothly.

DIY | Air

By: Colton Deck
July 31st, 2023

When summer hits, we all want to know the same thing: how do I cool down this room? Luckily for us, there are plenty of solutions, from some being simple and inexpensive to others being more involved.

Tankless Water Heaters | DIY

By: Colton Deck
June 21st, 2022

So, you’re almost ready to go all in on endless hot water with a tankless water heater, but how long will your home be without hot water during the installation? Luckily, tankless water heater installations aren’t always an all-day affair. At Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Air, we’ve installed tankless water heaters from top brands for over 15 years. In that time, we’ve worked with industry leaders like Navien and Noritz to ensure we install our customers’ tankless water heaters the right way the first time. We understand that large overhauls like installing a tankless water heater can take up valuable time in your day, so we strive to be considerate of your time while being mindful of the work we’re doing in your home. In this article, we’ll let you know how long you can expect a tankless water heater installation to take and what factors affect installation time. This information will give you a better idea of what to expect should you pursue a tankless water heater. How Long Does It Take to Install a Tankless Water Heater? The most common scenario for a tankless water heater installation is a customer switching from a traditional tank-style water heater to a tankless one. In this case, you can expect an average installation time of about four to six hours. There is a chance that your technician will be able to get the tankless water heater installation done ahead of schedule. When tankless installs wrap up on the early side, they typically take around three to six hours. Your technician isn’t a magician, but they’ll do their best to be mindful of your time, considering what your installation requires. It’s important to remember that these are averages. Every home is different, and there are plenty of issues a technician can run into during the installation that can add or subtract time from the total. Let’s check out what those might be so you can avoid being caught off guard. Factors That Affect Tankless Water Heater Installation Time Installing a tankless water heater is a big job with very specific needs, which is why you need a certified technician to install them. Having the right people for the job ensures you get expert service, regardless of the installation's requirements. Indoor vs. Outdoor One aspect of an install that can add time is if the tankless water heater is being installed indoors instead of outdoors. Indoor tankless water heaters require specific venting that outdoor-mounted tankless water heaters do not. There is also usually less space for technicians to move around during indoor installs, which can add time. Because of this additional work, you can expect your tankless water heater install to be on the longer side. On the flip side, if you’re going the outdoor route, your technician may be able to wrap the install a little early. This is purely based on the lack of venting and the increased freedom of movement from being outside. Water and Gas Line Location Another aspect of tankless water heater installation that can add or subtract time from the job is your water and gas lines. Your technician may need to extend these lines to install the tankless water heater safely. If this is the case, the farther away your tankless is from the lines, the longer it will likely take to complete the install. However, if your gas and water lines are located closer, your technician will make short work of these connections. Tankless to Tankless vs. Tank-Style to Tankless Not every water heater transition is the same. Some customers need an old traditional tank-style water heater swapped for a tankless one, while others may just upgrade to a new tankless water heater from their old one. Your tankless water heater installation time will vary depending on your situation. Because swapping from one tankless water heater to another may not require new lines to be run or new venting, this can decrease the time it takes to complete the installation. On the other hand, moving from a tank-style water heater to a tankless water heater is a bit more of an undertaking since new venting will be a must, and new connections for your gas and water lines may have to be made. Proper Whole-House Water Shut-off To properly install a tankless water heater, your certified technician needs access to your whole-house water shut-off. If you do not have a proper whole-house shut-off, the installation will be slowed by one of two things happening. One scenario is that your technician will have to install a whole-house water shut-off on-site. This additional install can take a significant amount of time but can come in handy for future jobs. On the other hand, your technician may have to get in touch with the city directly to have them shut off the water to your home. Contacting the city can also take some time and doesn’t afford you any future benefits. Up to Speed on Tankless Water Heater Installation Time We’ve touched on how long it takes to install a tankless water heater when done by a certified technician and how the install time can be affected for better or worse. With this information, you’ll be able to avoid surprises and build a healthy expectation of your installation time. You’ll also better understand the work your technician is doing. If you’re ready to take the plunge on a tankless water heater and live in Los Angeles County or one of its surrounding cities, visit our Tankless Water Heater Service Page or connect with us using one of the buttons below. We know adopting a tankless water heater is a big decision, so we’ve put together an Ultimate Guide to Tankless Water Heaters to help jump-start your research. You can also check out reviews for some of the top brands we carry, like Noritz, Navien, and Takagi, so you can get a better sense of what is on the market.

Standard Water Heaters | DIY

By: Kaitlyn Schott
November 5th, 2021

Did you know you should drain and clean your tank-style water heater every year? If you don’t, you could be drinking milky water. What’s milky water? Well, it definitely doesn’t come from a cow. Milky water is water with hard water minerals, other sediments, and rust. Gross right? At Monkey Wrench Plumbing, we know how to maintain all types of water heaters, and we service them all over the LA area. We want to give you that hard-earned knowledge so you can take charge of your home’s plumbing. By the end of this article, you will learn why tank-style water heaters need to be drained, when they need to be drained, what equipment you need, and how to do it. Why You Need to Drain A Water Heater

Tankless Water Heaters | DIY

By: Kaitlyn Schott
October 24th, 2021

You’re taking a well-deserved hot shower at the end of the day. You’re lathering up and singing to the heavens when, as if on cue, your water goes lukewarm. You fumble with the shower knob, and the water goes completely cold. Now you have to quickly finish what was supposed to be a moment for yourself to fix a frustrating problem.

Standard Water Heaters | Tankless Water Heaters | DIY

By: Kaitlyn Schott
September 22nd, 2021

Are you having any of these thoughts distracting you from more immediate concerns?

Tankless Water Heaters | DIY

By: Kaitlyn Schott
September 15th, 2021

“How should I know what size water heater I need?!” Maybe you mumble this to yourself as you’re researching online. Perhaps you’re talking to a neighbor or loved one. You may be shouting it to the heavens as a plumber wastes your time and tracks dirt through your clean living room.