Tankless Water Heater in Winston-Salem, NC

The trade-offs in plain terms

The Department of Energy says demand water heaters are 8% to 34% more efficient than storage models, with the larger gains in homes that use less hot water each day.

Sizing matters more than brand

DOE notes that tankless units typically put out about 2 to 5 gallons per minute. One shower plus a dishwasher may be fine; two showers and a washing machine at once can overwhelm a single small unit. A plumber will add up the fixtures you run together and how much the water needs heating to pick the size, and larger homes sometimes need two units.

Gas or electric in Winston-Salem

Gas tankless models need an adequately sized gas line and their own venting. Piedmont Natural Gas serves Forsyth County, but service is not on every street, so confirm gas is available at your address before planning around it. Electric tankless units avoid venting but draw a lot of current and may require a panel or wiring upgrade, which can change the math.

Maintenance with soft water

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities reports soft water, about 17.5 ppm average hardness in its 2025 report. That works in a tankless heater's favor, since mineral scale is the main thing that clogs the heat exchanger. Manufacturers still call for periodic flushing, and the inlet screen should be cleaned. Following the maintenance schedule also protects the warranty, and a plumber can do the flush during a routine visit if you'd rather not handle it yourself.

What drives installation cost

Unit size and fuel, gas line upsizing, new venting, electrical work, where the unit is mounted, and removal of the old tank. Replacing an existing tankless with a similar one is far simpler than converting from a tank, because the gas line, vent path and mounting are already in place. Ask for an itemized quote that separates the unit from the labor and any gas, venting or electrical work, so you can compare offers on equal terms.