Wilson runs its own natural gas utility, Wilson Energy, so many homes can choose a gas tankless water heater if a main reaches the street. Older houses often need a new vent and a larger gas line, and permits come from the City's Inspections Department. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Wilson.
Tankless water heaters in Wilson
Gas in Wilson comes from the city-owned Wilson Energy system, with more than 400 miles of main and over 13,000 services in the city and surrounding area. In the 27893 ZIP, about 29% of homes heat with utility gas, so plenty of houses already have a meter. The housing is a mix: the median home was built in 1983 and about 46% predate 1980, per Census survey data, from early-1900s neighborhoods to newer subdivisions in the northwest. City water comes from Wilson's own reservoirs and, per its 2022 report, uses free chlorine rather than chloramine.
What to do now
- Check your fuel. Look for a gas meter. If you're all-electric and want gas, ask Wilson Energy whether a main serves your street.
- Read the label. Note the current heater's age, size and fuel.
- Write down any codes. If you have a tankless unit already, the display code tells the plumber where to start.
- Look at the location. Is the heater near an outside wall? Is it in the garage?
- Count peak use. How many showers and appliances run at the same time?
- If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 or Wilson Energy from outside.
Symptoms and what usually causes them
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Hot water turns cold briefly mid-shower | Unit cycling off and relighting between draws |
| Weak hot flow, normal cold flow | Clogged inlet screen or scale in the heat exchanger |
| Ignition or flame failure code | Igniter, flame rod, gas pressure or a blocked vent |
| Unit shuts off at low flow | Flow below the minimum activation rate |
| Lukewarm water in winter only | Unit undersized for colder incoming water |
Cost factors in Wilson
- Gas line sizing from the Wilson Energy meter to the unit
- Venting, including capping an old shared flue in older homes
- Location rules. Wilson's Inspections Department lists a garage water heater that isn't raised 18 inches among its top code violations, so mounting height in a garage matters.
- Condensate drain for high-efficiency units
- Permits through the City's Permit Desk at City Hall, or Wilson County outside city jurisdiction
Tankless Water Heaters questions in Wilson
How do I find out if natural gas can be run to my house?
Can a tankless unit reuse the flue from my old tank heater?
Does switching from a tank to a tankless heater need a permit?
Why does my tankless heater seem weaker in January?
More plumbing services in Wilson
Tankless Water Heaters nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: