Is a tankless water heater worth it in Tulsa? For a lot of homes, yes. Navien tankless installations start at $5,999 for parts and labor. You get endless hot water, and flushed once a year, a tankless unit can last 20 to 30 years versus roughly 10 to 15 for a standard tank. You may also qualify for an Oklahoma Natural Gas rebate of up to $1,100 on a qualifying natural gas tankless unit.
Before installation
When you call for a tankless quote, we come out to your house and put on shoe covers before we step inside. We look at the space where the unit will go and measure how far it is to the roof line to run the exhaust. The difficulty of running that vent is what sets the price, so you get a firm number before any work starts.
Installation sequence
On install day, we drain your old water heater and remove it. Then we run the water lines and the gas line, rerun the vent, and turn the water back on. Last, we set the temperature and show you how to adjust it yourself.
Why homeowners switch to tankless
Tankless units give you endless hot water — you could run it nonstop and never run out. With a condensing gas unit, customers typically see the water-heating part of their gas bill drop by about half; if you're paying around $100 a month to heat water, figure closer to $50. Flushed once a year, a tankless unit can last 20 to 30 years, versus roughly 10 to 15 for a standard tank. One properly sized unit can typically replace a 75-gallon tank and serve up to five full baths; we add up the gallons per minute of every hot-water fixture first, and if demand is right at the limit we'll tell you a second unit may be needed.
Warranty and maintenance
Every tankless install we do comes with a two-year parts-and-labor warranty from us. On Navien units, the manufacturer covers the heat exchanger for 15 years and internal parts for five. Oklahoma water is hard, so the manufacturer's warranty calls for a licensed plumber to flush the heat exchanger once a year to clear the sediment. Our office system sends you a reminder when your one-year flush is due, so you don't have to remember.
Brand and fuel choice
We recommend Navien — in our view the best tankless brand out there — but we'll install any brand, including units customers supply themselves. For Oklahoma homes we recommend gas over full electric. Electric tankless units are non-condensing, their elements burn out, and they run up your electric bill. A condensing gas unit is more efficient and lasts much longer; it only needs a standard plug to power its touchscreen display.
ONG tankless rebate
You may qualify for an Oklahoma Natural Gas rebate of up to $1,100 when you switch to a qualifying natural gas tankless water heater. See how to claim your ONG rebate.
Why the yearly flush matters here
Oklahoma water is hard. According to the City of Tulsa, Tulsa water averages 8.2 grains per gallon from the A.B. Jewell plant and 5.2 grains per gallon from the Mohawk plant. That hardness is the sediment the yearly heat-exchanger flush clears out, and the flush is what the manufacturer's warranty calls for.
Condensing gas vs. electric tankless vs. tank
| Condensing gas tankless | Electric tankless | Standard tank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our recommendation | What we recommend for Oklahoma homes | Not recommended | Fine when budget comes first |
| Efficiency | More efficient | Non-condensing | Heats and stores water |
| Life | 20 to 30 years with a yearly flush | Elements burn out | About 10 to 15 years |
| Operating cost | Water-heating gas cost typically drops about half | Runs up your electric bill | Standard |
Who we call when a tankless needs parts, explained by Michael
Michael's answer on repairs: "We'll call tech support, 'cause a lot of times the water heater's under warranty." We work with "AO Smith on water heaters, Navien on tankless units," and "a lot of times the parts will be under warranty, so then that's free for the customer."
See how we handled it on real jobs
Each of these is written up from the actual job record, with real before and after photos.
Where we do this work
The same licensed crew (Oklahoma license #035596) does this work across the Tulsa metro: Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Owasso, Jenks, Collinsville, Catoosa, Coweta, Glenpool, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Claremore, Skiatook.
Straight Answers
What happens before a tankless installation?
We come to your home, put on shoe covers, look at the space, and measure the run to the roof line for the exhaust. The vent run sets the price, and you get it before work starts.
How is a tankless unit installed?
We drain and remove your old water heater, run the water and gas lines, rerun the vent, turn the water back on, then set the temperature and show you how to adjust it.
Does a tankless unit need annual maintenance?
Yes. Oklahoma water is hard, and the manufacturer's warranty calls for a licensed plumber to flush the heat exchanger once a year. That flush is what gets a tankless unit to a 20 to 30 year life. Our office sends you a reminder when it's due.
How much does a tankless installation cost?
Navien tankless installations start at $5,999 for parts and labor. It can cost more in a two-story home or wherever running the vent up and out through the roof is harder; we price it after looking at your space. Ask us about current utility rebates, since they change. After we install your unit, we register it with Navien.
Which tankless brand or fuel type is right?
For Oklahoma homes, go with a condensing gas unit. It is more efficient and lasts longer than full electric, whose elements burn out. We recommend Navien, but we'll install any brand.
Tankless or tank: which handles Tulsa's hard water better?
Both need maintenance unless you add a whole-home filtration system to treat the hard water. Without one, flush your tank or tankless every year so scale doesn't build up, and have it checked every couple of years for leaks and to make sure the vent is still secure.
How hard is Tulsa water for a tankless unit?
According to the City of Tulsa, the water averages 5.2 to 8.2 grains per gallon of hardness depending on the treatment plant. That's why the heat exchanger needs a yearly flush by a licensed plumber.
Are tankless repair parts covered by warranty?
Often. On Navien units the manufacturer covers the heat exchanger for 15 years and internal parts for five. We call tech support and, when the part is under warranty, it's free for you.
