Replacement sizing is where most Millersville installs go wrong. A 40-gallon gas tank handles a 2-bath home with 2-3 people. A family of 4-5 with teenagers wants a 50-gallon gas or a 75-100 gallon equivalent-recovery tankless. Electric needs more capacity than gas at the same gallon rating because recovery is slower , a 50-gallon electric gives you the usable hot water of a 40-gallon gas. We size based on actual peak-hour demand, not just bedroom count. Rheem Performance Platinum, A.O. Smith Signature, and Bradford White M-I are the tanks we install most , all 10-12 year lifespan on softened water in this county, 7-10 years on raw well water.
Venting is the second place installs get botched. Lancaster County code requires a Category III or IV vent on most modern high-efficiency units, and a replacement often means upgrading from an old B-vent to a sealed combustion vent through the sidewall. On atmospheric-vent tanks replacing atmospheric-vent tanks, we check draft at the hood with a smoke pencil before sign-off. Backdrafting a gas unit into a closed basement is a carbon monoxide risk , we don't close out a job until the vent draws clean. Older Blue Rock and Downtown Millersville homes with converted basements are the usual culprits for marginal draft.
Tankless conversions are a bigger job than straight tank swaps. You need a gas line that can carry 150,000-199,000 BTU , most existing 1/2 inch lines running to a 40,000 BTU tank aren't enough and need an upsize to 3/4 inch, which adds labor. You need electrical for the controller. You need Category IV PVC or polypropylene venting through the sidewall. On a well-planned swap , basement installation near an exterior wall with accessible gas and electric , a tankless conversion is $2,500-$4,500 all-in. In a tight utility closet in a townhouse off Comet Drive-Rabbit Lane with a long vent run, it's more.
Here's what we include that cheap installers skip. New supply flex connectors (never reused , they fatigue). New gas flex and sediment trap. New T&P valve and discharge pipe to code. Expansion tank where required (closed-loop systems with a PRV need one , most Millersville homes do). Dielectric unions between copper and the tank nipples to prevent galvanic corrosion, which on hard well water chews through dissimilar-metal joints in 3-4 years. Permit pulled through the township, inspection scheduled, old unit hauled off. The cheap install that comes in $400 under our price is usually skipping two or three of those items.
What we handle
Gas Tank Water Heater Installation
40, 50, and 75 gallon atmospheric and power-vent gas tank installs. Rheem, A.O. Smith, and Bradford White. Includes new supply flex, gas flex, T&P, and sediment trap.
Electric Tank Water Heater Installation
40, 50, 80 gallon electric tank installs including breaker and wire sizing check. Required when gas is unavailable or when homeowners want to eliminate combustion from the envelope.
Tankless Water Heater Installation
Rinnai, Navien, and Rheem condensing tankless conversion with gas line upsize, Category IV venting, and electrical for the controller. Standard job runs $2,500-$4,500.
Gas-to-Electric Conversion
Removing a gas tank and installing electric, including breaker panel assessment and wire run. Common on remodels where the gas line is being relocated or removed.
Electric-to-Gas Conversion
Upgrading an electric tank to gas for faster recovery and lower operating cost. Includes gas line run, vent install, and combustion air sizing to Lancaster County code.
Emergency Same-Week Replacement
Tank failed and flooded the basement? We can usually have a new 40 or 50 gallon in and running inside 24-48 hours when stock allows.
Expansion Tank and PRV Upgrade
Adding an expansion tank and pressure-reducing valve to closed-loop systems , required by code on new installs and a common catch during permit inspection.
Old Unit Haul-Away and Recycling
Included on every replacement. We drain the old tank, cap the lines, and haul the steel to a Lancaster County metal recycler. You're not stuck with a 180-pound tank in your garage.
How the job goes
1. Phone Intake and Sizing
We ask about bathrooms, household size, current unit type and size, and fuel source. You get an honest sizing recommendation and a price band for 2-3 options (budget tank, mid-grade tank, tankless) before we drive out.
2. In-Home Walk-Through
We look at the install space, measure clearances, check gas line size, test vent draft, and photograph the setup. Walk-through takes 30-45 minutes and the written quote follows by end of day.
3. Permit and Scheduling
We pull the plumbing permit through your Lancaster County township and schedule the install, typically inside 48 hours for in-stock units. Tankless conversions need a longer lead time if gas line work is involved.
4. Install Day
Drop cloth and floor protection down first. Drain and disconnect the old unit, set the new one, run new supply flex, gas flex, vent connections to spec. Fill, purge, light, and run a full recovery cycle. Standard tank swap is 3-5 hours. Tankless conversion is 6-10 hours.
5. Inspection and Warranty
Township inspector meets us or you on a scheduled time. Once signed off, you get the manufacturer's warranty registered in your name plus our written workmanship warranty, and the old unit is gone.
What's included
- In-home sizing and written quote
- Permit pulled through the township
- New supply flex connectors (not reused)
- New gas flex and sediment trap on gas units
- New T&P valve and code-compliant discharge pipe
- Expansion tank where code requires
- Dielectric unions to prevent galvanic corrosion
- Vent inspection and draft test before sign-off
- Full recovery cycle test
- Haul-away and recycling of the old unit
- Manufacturer warranty registration
- Written workmanship warranty
What it costs
Standard 40-50 gallon tank replacement in Millersville runs $1,200-$2,500 all-in. Tankless conversion $2,500-$4,500. Permit, haul-away, and inspection included , no hidden add-ons.
| Job | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 40-50 Gallon Gas Tank, Standard Install | $1,200, $2,200 | Same-location swap, existing venting, standard-efficiency tank. Low-end on direct-replacement, high-end on upgraded model. |
| 40-50 Gallon Electric Tank, Standard Install | $1,100, $1,900 | Existing breaker and wire adequate. Higher if a new 30-amp circuit has to be run. |
| 75-80 Gallon Tank Install | $1,800, $2,800 | Larger tank, heavier handling, often needs a bigger expansion tank. Family of 5+ sizing. |
| Tankless Water Heater Install | $2,500, $4,500 | Full conversion including gas line upsize, PVC venting, and controller wiring. Lower end if gas and vent location are easy. |
| Gas-to-Electric or Electric-to-Gas Conversion | $1,800, $3,500 | Depends heavily on existing gas or electrical capacity. We give the breakdown after the walk-through. |
| Free In-Home Sizing and Quote | Free | 30-45 minute walk-through. Written quote by end of same business day. |
Ranges are typical for Water Heater Replacement and Installation jobs in Millersville and confirmed with an exact written quote before any work starts.