A tankless water heater is a practical upgrade for many Moreno Valley homes, most of which date from the 1980s onward and have garage space for a short vent run. Who supplies your water depends on the address: Eastern Municipal Water District serves most of the city, and Box Springs Mutual Water Company serves a western pocket that includes Edgemont. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Moreno Valley.
Local conditions in Moreno Valley
Moreno Valley formed in 1984 from Sunnymead, Edgemont and Moreno, and its housing reflects that: Census survey figures put the median year built at 1988. Many homes keep the water heater in the garage, which usually means a short path to an outside wall for a tankless vent and a gas line that is easy to reach. Original heaters in homes from the late 1980s and 1990s have long since been replaced at least once, so a tankless unit often comes up at the second or third replacement.
Water service is split. The City's General Plan utilities study lists Eastern Municipal Water District for most of Moreno Valley and Box Springs Mutual Water Company for about 430 acres in the west, including Edgemont. EMWD relies mainly on imported Colorado River and State Water Project water plus local groundwater. Hardness differs by source, so check the annual report from whichever provider bills you before choosing scale protection. EMWD's service line inventory found no lead service lines in its system.
Tank or tankless for a Moreno Valley home
| Factor | Gas storage tank | Gas tankless |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water supply | Limited by tank size | Continuous, limited by flow rate |
| Garage space | Floor-standing, strapped | Wall-mounted, frees floor space |
| Gas line | Existing line usually fine | Often needs a larger line |
| Venting | Standard flue | Dedicated sealed vent |
| Upkeep | Drain sediment | Descale the heat exchanger |
| Power outage | Most keep working | No hot water without power |
Signs to call
- A tank leaking at the base or at the relief valve
- Hot water that runs out during back-to-back showers
- An existing tankless unit with falling flow or frequent error codes
- Noisy heating, which in a tank usually means sediment
Timing and seasonal notes
Winter is when an undersized tankless unit shows itself, because incoming water is colder and the heater must work harder. Summer brings the opposite issue: warm inlet water can drop the burner to its lowest setting, and very low flows may not keep it lit. Santa Ana wind events can bring power outages, and a gas tankless heater needs electricity for its controls. Permit applications, including water heater change-outs, go to the City's Building & Safety Division online through SimpliCITY or at the kiosks at City Hall, 14177 Frederick St. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 and SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200 from outside.
Tankless Water Heaters questions in Moreno Valley
Do I need a permit to switch to a tankless water heater?
How do I find out how hard my water is?
Does a gas tankless heater work when the power goes out?
Why does my tankless heater shut off at low flow?
More plumbing services in Moreno Valley
Tankless Water Heaters nearby
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