Lower Utility Bills
Lower Utility Bills | Tankless Water Heater Install | Plumbing | Karns
Imagine stepping into a hot shower that never runs cold while your energy bills dip lower each month. That’s the everyday reality Karns homeowners enjoy when HEP’s licensed plumbers handle their tankless water heater install. By heating water on demand instead of storing it in a bulky tank, these compact systems slash standby energy loss, free up valuable space, and can last twice as long as traditional units—all backed by our industry-leading warranties.
From the first phone call to the final water-temperature check, HEP keeps the process simple, transparent, and mess-free. We size your new system precisely to your household’s needs, pull any required permits, haul away the old heater, and leave you with a clean utility room and a reliable stream of money-saving hot water. Ready to start lowering your utility bills? Reach out today and find out why your neighbors in Karns say, “Happy HEP—Happy Home!”
FAQs
How does a tankless water heater help lower my utility bills compared to a traditional tank system?
Traditional tank heaters keep 40–80 gallons of water hot around the clock, so you pay to re-heat the same water over and over. A tankless (on-demand) unit uses high-efficiency burners or electric elements that fire only when a hot-water tap opens. This eliminates standby heat loss and can cut water-heating energy use by 24 %–34 % for homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Because tankless models typically reach 96 %+ efficiency, many Karns homeowners see annual savings of $80–$200 on their gas or electric bills after switching.
Is my home in Karns a good candidate for a tankless water heater?
Nearly any single-family home, condo, or townhouse in Karns can accommodate a tankless unit. Key factors we check during our free in-home assessment include: (1) gas line size or electrical capacity, (2) venting route to an exterior wall or roof, (3) incoming water hardness, and (4) peak hot-water demand (number of simultaneous showers, appliances, etc.). Even older homes can be retrofitted; in most cases we simply upsize the gas line or run a dedicated 240-V circuit. Homes on well water also qualify— we’ll just recommend an inexpensive scale filter to protect the heat exchanger.
What size or flow-rate tankless water heater do I need for my family?
Tankless units are sized by gallons per minute (GPM). First we total the flow rates of fixtures you might run at the same time— for example, two showers (2 GPM each) + a dishwasher (1.5 GPM) = 5.5 GPM. Then we factor in Karns’s winter groundwater temperature (about 50 °F) to ensure a 70 °F rise to 120 °F output. Most three-to-four-bedroom homes in Karns land in the 7–9 GPM range, which translates to a 180,000-BTU gas model or a 27-kW electric model. Larger households may require a second unit in parallel; we’ll calculate this for you during the quote.
What does the installation process involve, and how long will I be without hot water?
On installation day our licensed plumbers drain and remove your old tank, set the new wall-mounted unit, enlarge gas lines (or wire a dedicated circuit), run stainless-steel or PVC venting, and add a condensate line. We also flush the system with food-grade vinegar and program temperature settings. The entire job usually takes 4–6 hours, and hot water is restored before we leave. We pull all Knox County permits and schedule the final inspection, so you only need to be home twice: once for installation and once for the inspector’s quick walk-through.
Are there rebates or tax incentives for installing a tankless water heater in Karns?
Yes. TVA’s EnergyRight program currently offers up to a $300 rebate on qualifying ENERGY STAR® gas tankless models. Electric utilities such as KUB often provide bill credits for high-efficiency upgrades as well. In addition, the federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C) allows you to claim 30 % of the unit and labor cost, up to $600, on your federal income taxes through 2032. We supply all model numbers and AHRI certificates, and we’ll even complete the rebate paperwork for you.
How much maintenance does a tankless unit need, and how long will it last?
Because there’s no storage tank to corrode, tankless water heaters last 20–25 years— roughly twice the life of a conventional tank. Annual maintenance is simple: flush the heat exchanger with a vinegar solution to remove scale, clean the inlet screen, and inspect the vent. Our Karns service plan costs about $99 per year and includes the flush, a combustion-analysis efficiency test, and priority scheduling. Regular maintenance preserves your warranty (most manufacturers offer 15-year heat-exchanger coverage) and keeps your energy savings at peak levels.