Tankless Water Heater in Butner, NC

The Town of Butner doesn't run water or sewer; the South Granville Water and Sewer Authority does, from its plant at Lake Holt. Census survey figures put Butner's median build year at 1991, with about 29% of homes built before 1980. Granville County handles building permits and inspections for the town, while Butner handles its own zoning. Gas service comes from Enbridge Gas North Carolina where a main reaches the street. Because SGWASA requires a check valve on the house side of every meter, pressure behaves differently than in an open system, which can explain a dripping relief valve. Sediment is the other recurring theme: SGWASA attributes discolored water to iron and manganese loosened in older pipes, and that grit tends to collect in a tankless unit's inlet screen.

What to do now

1. Read the display. Note any error code before you power the unit off and on.
2. Check power and fuel. Confirm the outlet or breaker is live and the gas valve to the unit is open.
3. Look at the inlet screen. SGWASA has noted iron and manganese stirred up in pipes, and sediment can clog the small filter where cold water enters the unit.
4. Note what changed. Did it start after a power outage, a cold snap or discolored water? That helps the plumber narrow it down.
5. If you smell gas, leave. Go outside and call 911 or Enbridge Gas North Carolina at 1-877-776-2427.

Symptoms and likely causes

What affects the cost

• Repair or replace. A flush and sensor fix cost far less than a new heat exchanger.
• Gas supply. Moving from a tank to tankless often means a larger gas line.
• Venting. Reusing an existing tankless vent path saves work; a first-time install needs a new one.
• Pressure control. The required check valve can mean adding or keeping an expansion tank.
• Permit. Granville County's permit and inspection are part of a new installation.