Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless Water Heaters | Commercial Plumbing | Plumbing | Church Hill
From bustling restaurants on Main Street to busy manufacturing floors near Holston River, Church Hill businesses trust HEP to keep the hot water flowing without a hiccup. Our tankless water heater solutions deliver endless, on-demand hot water while slashing energy costs and freeing up valuable space—crucial advantages when every square foot and every second of downtime matter. Because tankless units heat water only when you need it, your staff enjoys consistent temperatures and your bottom line benefits from lower utility bills and fewer maintenance surprises.
Behind each install stands a team of licensed experts who live and breathe commercial plumbing, ready 24/7 to design, retrofit, or service systems that match the unique demands of your facility. We coordinate around your schedule, secure all permits, and back our workmanship with iron-clad warranties, so you can focus on running your business instead of worrying about hot water. When reliability, efficiency, and local accountability matter, Church Hill turns to HEP—problem solved.
FAQs
What are the main advantages of installing a commercial tankless water heater in Church Hill instead of a traditional storage-tank system?
Tankless units heat water on demand, so you no longer pay to keep 40–100 gallons hot 24/7. In most commercial settings this cuts water-heating energy use 25–50 %. Because the burners or electric elements fire only when water flows, components experience less thermal stress and typically last 20+ years—about twice the service life of a tank. The compact wall-hung design frees up valuable floor space for storage or revenue-generating equipment. Finally, multiple units can be cascaded; if one needs service the others keep running, so you avoid total hot-water outages that could shut down your business.
How do I determine the correct size and number of tankless units for my business?
Proper sizing starts with a peak-demand calculation: we total the gallons per minute (GPM) each fixture needs at your busiest time—dishwashers, prep sinks, showers, etc.—and factor in desired outlet temperature (usually 120 °F) and incoming groundwater temperature (about 55 °F in Church Hill). A single commercial-grade unit can deliver 5–11 GPM, but restaurants, laundries and hotels often require a bank of 2–6 units piped in parallel (cascaded). We also check gas supply: a 199 kBTU condensing unit needs a ¾–1 in. gas line and Category IV venting. After an on-site evaluation our plumbers give you a worksheet showing number of units, flow rate, and installation cost so you can make an informed decision.
Are there special plumbing or code requirements for commercial tankless installations in Church Hill?
Yes. Hawkins County adopts the 2021 International Plumbing Code and Tennessee Mechanical Code, which require: • ASME-rated pressure-relief valves and properly sized discharge piping. • Dedicated Category IV (sealed) venting for condensing gas models; terminated at least 4 ft from building openings. • Combustion air openings or direct-vent kits sized per manufacturer specs. • A full-size isolation valve set and purge ports on both hot and cold lines to allow mandatory annual descaling. • Backflow protection on make-up water lines. • Gas lines sized for 3.5-7 in. w.c. pressure under full load. Our licensed commercial plumbers pull the permit, schedule inspection with the Church Hill Building Department, and provide the compliance paperwork for your files.
What maintenance do commercial tankless water heaters need, and how often?
Even though tankless systems have no storage tank to rust or harbor legionella, they do require routine service. In the Church Hill area the water is moderately hard (8–10 grains), so we recommend: 1. Annual descaling: isolate the unit and circulate a 5-gallon vinegar or citric-acid solution for 30–45 minutes to remove mineral buildup on the heat exchanger. 2. Yearly combustion check: verify gas pressure, manifold pressure, and CO levels; clean the burner tray and fan intake. 3. Inspect/clean inlet water filter every 6 months. 4. Flush condensate neutralizer media once per year. A service contract keeps you on schedule and preserves the 5-year commercial heat-exchanger warranty most manufacturers offer.
Will converting to tankless disrupt my daily operations?
Downtime is minimal. We typically mount and pipe the new units beside the existing tank so your business keeps hot water during most of the installation. Switchover—cutover of gas, water and vent connections—takes 2–4 hours and can be scheduled before opening or after closing to avoid customer impact. For hotels and nursing homes we stage the project floor-by-floor or wing-by-wing and provide temporary electric heaters if needed. Final inspection is completed the same day, so you’re back to full capacity almost immediately.
How energy-efficient are commercial tankless heaters, and what kind of return on investment (ROI) can I expect?
High-efficiency condensing models run at 96–98 % thermal efficiency versus 70–75 % for typical gas tanks. For a restaurant using 1,000 therms of gas monthly, moving to tankless can save roughly 250–300 therms, or $350–$420 per month at current Church Hill utility rates. Most installs pay for themselves in 2–4 years—and sooner if you qualify for TVA or federal 179D efficiency tax incentives. You also avoid the leak and flooding risk associated with large tanks, reducing insurance claims and business interruption costs.