Tankless Water Heater in Pittsboro, NC

Is my Pittsboro house a good candidate for tankless?

Often it is. Census survey figures put Pittsboro's median build year at 2002, and only about 11% of homes were built before 1980. Newer houses tend to have garages or utility rooms with an exterior wall close by, which keeps the vent run short, and the electrical panels are usually larger than those in older homes. That matters whether you're looking at gas, which still needs power for its controls, or a fully electric unit. Homes in and around the Pittsboro Historic District near the courthouse circle are the exception, and they deserve a closer look at the vent route and gas pipe before anyone quotes a model.

Can I get natural gas for a tankless unit here?

It depends on your street. Enbridge Gas North Carolina, formerly PSNC, has customers in Chatham County and has reported growth there, and it is planning a new pipeline across the county from roughly Siler City to Moncure to meet demand. A planned pipeline does not mean a main on your road, though. If the house has no meter today, ask Enbridge whether service is available at your address before you settle on a gas model. Without it, the choices are propane or electric. If you ever notice a gas smell, leave first and call 911 or Enbridge at 1-877-776-2427 from outside.

Who permits and inspects the work?

Chatham County Central Permitting & Inspections covers Pittsboro, Siler City, Goldston and unincorporated Chatham, and its building inspections staff perform plumbing inspections. The County's page doesn't spell out water heater permit specifics, so the plumber confirms what's required and normally files the application. Gas line changes and a new vent are part of what the inspector will want to see.

A note on water outside town

In-town homes are on the former Town water system, now run by TriRiver Water out of Sanford. Some subdivisions outside the limits, including Chapel Ridge, are billed and serviced by Aqua, and parts of the county around Pittsboro are on private wells. Chatham County well testing has found iron and manganese common, and those minerals can build up inside a tankless heat exchanger, so a filter ahead of the unit and a regular flush are worth discussing if your home draws from a well.