Hot water that doesn’t run out. Lower energy bills. No bulky tank eating a corner of your basement. That’s what a tankless water heater does for your house.
Here’s how these systems work, what installation and repair actually cost, and how Smedley Plumbing handles both across the Kansas City metro.
How Tankless Water Heating Works
A tankless unit heats water the moment you call for it. No storage tank, no waiting for a refill. Because it isn’t keeping a tank of water hot around the clock, it can cut your energy consumption by 30% – 40%.
Smedley Plumbing installs, repairs, and maintains tankless water heaters across Kansas City. Over 20 years of experience, and every plumber we send has at least 10,000 hours on the tools.
Why Upgrade To A Tankless Water Heater?
A few honest reasons homeowners make the switch.
Long-term savings
Tankless systems only fire when you need hot water. Traditional models heat a full tank all day whether you use it or not. That difference cuts utility bills by 30% to 40%.
Fewer components also means fewer things that break — less maintenance, fewer repairs, fewer replacement parts.
Endless hot water supply
On-demand heating means the hot water doesn’t quit, even during the morning rush. If your household puts real demand on the hot water, this alone is worth the upgrade.
Space-saving design
A traditional heater needs room for a tank, usually in a spot you’d rather use for something else. A tankless unit mounts on a wall or tucks into a utility closet.
Environmental benefits
Less energy burned and less water wasted means a smaller carbon footprint. If sustainability matters in your house, tankless is the greener choice.
Longevity
- Tankless water heaters = 10-20 years
- Tank water heaters = 8-10 years
- Traditional gas models = 8-12 years
- Traditional oil water heaters = 10-15 years
Tankless systems simply outlast tank heaters. Now let’s talk installation costs.
10,000-Hour GuaranteeEvery plumber we send has at least 10,000 hours on the tools. If it isn't fixed right, we come back at no charge.
Tankless Water Heater Installation
Straight talk on price: the average electric tankless water heater costs between $1,833 and $3,910.
Smedley Plumbing is locally owned and veteran-operated, serving Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Kansas City, and surrounding Missouri. We handle installation, repair, replacement, and maintenance.
Every plumber we send meets our 10,000-hour experience guarantee — the U.S. Department of Labor’s benchmark for mastery of a trade.
Our licensed team helps you pick the right size and type of unit for your house, your budget, and how your family actually uses hot water. Here’s how scheduling works:
- Call us or fill out the online form. We ask for a two-hour window, and we show up inside it, ready to work.
- We evaluate your household size and hot water demand.
- You get a free, no-obligation quote before any work starts.
- You get transparent pricing from a company with 10,000 hours (5 years) of experience per plumber and over 700 5-star Google reviews.
Worth knowing: the federal 25C Tax Credit Program covers certain home improvements — including tankless water heater installations — for a tax credit of up to $3,200. It runs from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2032.
Tankless Water Heater Repair
A lukewarm shower usually means the unit needs attention, not replacement. Even the best tankless heaters need occasional work, and our technicians troubleshoot them every week.
The average tankless water heater repair runs $100 to $650, with most homeowners paying around $375. High-end system repairs can cost up to $1,300.
Cost also varies by fuel type:
- Electric models = $100 – $600
- Propane/gas units = $150 – $650
- Oil types = $150 – $650
- Solar units = $200 – $700
These are the five problems we see most.
1. Ignition failure
- Symptoms: no hot water, error codes (E11 on Rheem models)
- The fix: the pilot light is the flame that ignites the burner. When it goes out, the components around it may need to be readjusted or re-lit — by a professional, not by you. We’ll confirm the power supply is stable (gas or electric) and make sure all valves and pipes are free of blockages.
2. Intermittent heating
- Symptoms: little to no hot water
- The fix: could be a faulty flow sensor, low water pressure, too many taps running at once, a bad thermostat, or mineral buildup. Try cutting back on simultaneous hot water use first. If that doesn’t do it, call us — we’ll analyze the full system, test the flow sensors and pressure valves, and regulate the thermostat. Replacement parts come into it only if they have to.
3. Air supply or exhaust blockage
- Symptoms: reduced water flow, insufficient heating
- The fix: intake and exhaust lines have to stay clear to vent byproduct gases like water vapor and carbon dioxide — that’s what prevents overheating and rising system pressure. Don’t clear these yourself; done wrong, it’s a safety hazard. Call Smedley Plumbing and we’ll address it immediately.
4. Pressure relief valve issues
- Symptoms: leaking water, unusual noises from the heater unit, low water pressure
- The fix: usually fluctuating temperatures or increased system pressure — and it’s a safety concern, so this is plumber territory. We inspect the system for corrosion, cracks, or damage, reset the thermostat to between 120°F and 125°F, and reset the unit. If the problem persists, a pressure relief valve replacement may be needed ($75 – $150).
5. Mineral buildup
- Symptoms: gradual decrease in system efficiency
- The fix: hard water leaves mineral deposits, and sludge — rust, limescale, and debris — clogs the unit over time. We run an inhibitor (clean) through the heater to loosen the buildup, then use magnetic filters to catch suspended debris before it causes a blockage. If the sediment or corrosion damage is excessive, we’ll tell you straight — usually a full replacement beats a repair at that point.
Typical component repair and replacement costs*:
- Fuse = $50 – $75
- Thermostat = $75 – $150
- Pressure relief valve = $75 – $150
- Pilot light = $100 – $175
- Element = $200 – $750
- Pipes = $150 – $800
*Including labor
Regular Tankless Water Heater Maintenance
Maintenance costs range between $100 and $700, with some models reaching up to $1,300 — the average is around $600. Technicians typically charge $45 – $200 per hour, depending on location, the job, and the price of replacement parts.
We recommend tankless water heater maintenance at least once a year. Here’s what it buys you:
- Longer lifespan: routine maintenance can extend a tankless heater’s life by up to 15 years.
- Sustained efficiency: a clean, tuned unit keeps energy use and utility bills down.
- Fewer breakdowns: a maintained system is far less likely to quit on you without warning.
Choosing The Right Tankless Water Heater For Your Home
The right size depends on your house, your routines, and your hot water demand. Get it wrong and you either overpay or run short.
We inspect your property, factor in your budget and lifestyle, and recommend the correct system. If you go with a gas unit, we install the gas piping too.
- Tankless water heaters use 30% to 40% less energy and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional tank heaters.
- On-demand heating eliminates the storage tank and standby energy waste — and cuts water consumption, since you only heat what you use.
- A longer lifespan means fewer upgrades and repairs down the road.
FAQs About Tankless Water Heater Services
Do professionals need to install a tankless water heater?
Yes. Every tankless water heater installation needs to be done by a licensed plumber. Give Smedley Plumbing a call.
What is the cost of tankless water heater repair?
Between $100 and $700 on average, depending on the severity of the damage.
Why Choose Smedley Plumbing For Your Tankless Water Heater Needs
Here’s what you get when you call us:
- Over 20 years of plumbing experience
- Licensed and insured
- Plumbers with over 10,000 industry hours (5 years) of experience
- Safe, reliable work
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Transparent pricing with no hidden costs
- Free estimates
What our customers think
The reviews say it better than we can:
- 5/5 star Google rating – with over 700 votes
- 5/5 star TrustIndex rating – with over 400 votes
- “Mitch and his team were wonderful!!” – Jan, September 2023
- “Matt was very courteous and got the job done very efficiently.” – B.L., September 2023
List of services
- Tankless water heater installation and repair
- Maintenance services for tankless water heaters
- Sump pump installation and repair
- Sewer line repair
- Excavation
- Drain cleaning – and more
Contact Smedley Plumbing
Reach us Monday to Sunday between 08:00 and 17:00:
- Phone: (816) 763-3539
- Website: Online form
Call or schedule online for tankless water heater installation, repair, or maintenance. We’ll send a plumber who’s done this a thousand times — and yes, the truck carries dog treats.
We put water heaters to the test — on camera.
Over 1,000,000 homeowners have watched us tear down a big-box water heater next to a professional supply-house unit. The parts are not the same product.
Straight answers
How long should a water heater last?
A conventional tank water heater typically lasts 8 to 12 years; a well-maintained tankless unit can run 20 years or more. If yours is over 10 years old and leaking from the tank body, replacement is the honest answer — a leaking tank cannot be repaired.
Do you install the units sold at big-box stores?
We install professional supply-house units, not big-box models. We tore both apart side by side on video and over a million people have watched the difference. The parts, the anode rod, and the warranty support are not the same product.
Should I go tankless?
Gas tankless is an excellent upgrade for most homes — endless hot water and a much longer service life. We do not recommend whole-home electric tankless in our climate; it rarely performs the way people hope, and we will tell you that rather than sell you one.
40 gallon or 50 gallon?
A 40-gallon tank suits most one-to-three-person households; 50 gallons suits three to five people or homes with a large soaking tub. Most Kansas City homes we work in run a 50.
How much does it cost to come out?
Our service charge is $89, and it is applied toward the work when we do the repair. You will know the full price to the penny before we start anything.
Are you available after hours?
Yes. Smedley Plumbing is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and a real person answers the phone. Call (816) 763-3539 — that spells (816) SMEDLEY.