Navien NPE-180S2 tankless
$5,299+ parts
Hot water that
doesn't run out.
Call (619) 663 4328
North County? (760) 517 6900
4.8 from 1,163 Google and Yelp reviews
Tankless prices, installed
Navien tankless installation to code. Parts are priced separately. Plan for a softener alongside.
Navien NPE-240A2 tankless
$5,699+ parts
Water softener
$2,995+ parts
See times and book onlineModels and specs
Parts are priced separately. The technician confirms the final number before any work starts.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Saves $175 to $275 a year, or $2,100 to $3,300 over 12 years
- Endless hot water, even when everyone showers at once
- Lasts up to 10 years longer than a storage tank
- Takes up less space, and can go outdoors
- Only uses energy while a faucet is open
- Easy to move to a different location
- Can add value to your home
Cons
- The gas line may need upsizing for the extra demand, which takes time and money
- Needs yearly service, or a water treatment system, to prevent failure
- Needs electricity as well as gas, which may mean a new outlet
- Costs more upfront, up to 4 to 5 times a storage tank installed
- We don't install or service electric tankless units: they're unreliable and need huge electrical upgrades
What size tankless do you need?
Two numbers decide it: the flow rate of everything running at once, and the temperature rise from your incoming water to your shower.
Running at the same time
Showers
4 gallons a minute each
2
Kitchen faucets
4 gallons a minute each
1
Bathroom faucets
3 gallons a minute each
0
Appliances
4 gallons a minute each
1
Look for a tankless unit that delivers at least
16
gallons a minute
40°F
temperature rise
A rough guide from Brandon's sizing method. San Diego's ground water sits near the average air temperature, around 70°F, which makes tankless work easier here. We confirm the size at the free estimate.
San Diego's hard water will kill a tankless without a softener
Without a softener, hard water destroys the heat exchanger in 4 to 6 years. Minerals build up inside the coils, they leak, and the leak damages the computer, the fan and the electronics.
With a well maintained softener, you can skip the yearly flush entirely. Check the salt level regularly. We use Morton's Clean and Protect pellets.
Servicing a tankless heater
Flush the heat exchanger
Without a softener, flush every 6 to 12 months to dissolve the scale in the coils. Service or isolation valves make it possible. Expect $100 to $225 a year.
The 10 year rule
If a unit has run 10+ years without a flush, don't start now. The mineral deposits may be sealing small leaks.
The better answer
A proper water treatment system on the unit or the whole house. No yearly service, and treated water everywhere.
Instant hot water and recirculation
A tankless gives you unlimited hot water, not instant hot water. The pipe to your shower can be very long, and families waste around 4,000 gallons a year waiting for it to warm up.
Adding a separate recirculation pump to a tankless keeps it running all the time, which can cut its life and its warranty. That's why we recommend Navien's A models, which have the recirculation pump and a buffer tank built in: hot water arrives fast without wearing the heater out. The S models, like the NPE-180S2 in our starting price, don't have it.
Watch before you decide
Tank vs Tankless Water Heater: The Truth After Installing 5,000+ Units
Tankless vs. Tank Water Heater (Complete Guide)
How To Flush a Tankless Water Heater in 3 Minutes
The Ridiculous Warranty
Covers labor and parts, with no questions asked. If we can't repair your water heater, we install a new upgraded model for free.