New Home
New Home | Tankless Water Heater Install | Plumbing | Deer Lodge
Enjoy endless hot water, lower energy bills, and precious floor space when you choose HEP for your tankless water heater install in Deer Lodge. Our licensed plumbers size your new on-demand system for Montana’s chilly winters, swap out bulky tanks in a single visit, and haul the old unit away—so the only thing left behind is a compact heater and a noticeably lighter utility bill.
From the first call to the final test run, we keep you in the loop with upfront pricing, quick scheduling, and workmanship guarantees that make comfort completely worry-free. Whether you’re building a new home near Rock Creek Lake or upgrading an older cabin downtown, trust the hometown team that backs every installation with 24/7 support and a satisfaction promise as solid as the mountains around Deer Lodge.
FAQs
What are the main benefits of installing a tankless water heater in my new Deer Lodge home?
Tankless (on-demand) units heat water only when you open a tap, eliminating the standby heat losses that storage tanks create. For most Deer Lodge households this translates into • energy-bill savings of 20–40 %, • endless hot water for back-to-back showers, • a compact unit that frees up floor space, and • a life expectancy of 20+ years—about twice that of a conventional tank. Because Deer Lodge is in Climate Zone 5, where energy costs for water heating are higher than the national average, these advantages are felt even more strongly.
Will a tankless heater keep up with Deer Lodge’s cold winter inlet water temperatures?
Yes. In mid-winter our incoming water temperature can dip to about 40 °F, which means the heater must raise the water roughly 80 °F to reach a comfortable 120 °F set-point. We size units by the required temperature rise and the gallons-per-minute (GPM) flow you need at peak demand. A properly sized 180,000 BTU natural-gas unit, or a 27 kW electric model, will deliver 4–6 GPM even on the coldest January morning—more than enough for a shower and dishwasher running simultaneously.
How do you determine what size and fuel type of tankless heater I need?
During our in-home consultation we: 1) add up your peak simultaneous fixtures (showers, washing machine, etc.), 2) assign GPM values to each fixture, 3) calculate the needed temperature rise (≈80 °F in winter, ≈60 °F in summer), and 4) choose a unit whose flow-rate chart meets or exceeds that demand. Gas (natural or propane) units handle higher flow at lower operating cost, while electric units avoid flue piping and gas-line upgrades but may require a 200-amp service and dedicated 240 V breakers. We present both options with upfront and lifetime cost comparisons so you can decide confidently.
What is involved in the installation and how long will it take?
A typical Deer Lodge tankless installation is completed in one working day: • We turn off water, power, and/or gas and remove your old tank. • Mount the new wall-hung unit and run venting through the rim joist or roof (gas models). • Upsize gas piping or install a dedicated 3⁄4-in line if required. • For electric units, we pull and terminate the new circuit(s) from the main panel. • Add isolation valves, a pressure relief valve, and a condensate drain. • Pull a city permit and coordinate inspection with the Deer Lodge Building Department. After start-up we walk you through operation, register the warranty, and leave you with written maintenance instructions.
Will a tankless water heater really lower my energy bills?
Yes. Department of Energy studies show that homes using ≤41 gal of hot water per day (the average for new construction) save 24–34 % compared with a standard gas tank. In Deer Lodge, where natural-gas prices averaged $1.34/therm last year, that’s about $90–$140 in annual savings. Larger families can still expect 8–15 % savings because the unit isn’t reheating 40–50 gallons 24/7. Electric tankless units avoid standby losses entirely, giving similar percentage savings over electric storage tanks.
What maintenance does a tankless unit need, and do you service what you install?
Tankless heaters require an annual flush with white vinegar or a manufacturer-approved descaling solution to remove mineral buildup—especially important in Deer Lodge, where water hardness averages 10–12 grains per gallon. The flush takes about 45 minutes and keeps the heat exchanger efficient and under warranty. We offer a low-cost annual maintenance plan that includes the flush, full system check, and software update where applicable. Our team is factory-trained and keeps popular parts in stock, so you have one local call for maintenance or warranty claims.