The setting
Downtown Fullerton and the residential streets around it include some of the city's oldest buildings: early twentieth-century houses, small apartment buildings and commercial blocks. Lots are often narrow, buildings sit close together, and water heaters may be tucked into small closets, service porches or detached garages.
Those conditions make a tankless unit's compact size appealing, but they also make venting harder. Clearances from windows, doors and property lines can be tight when the neighbor's wall is only a few feet away.
Downtown conditions and tankless
| Condition | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Small utility closet | Clearances for service, combustion air and the vent connection per the manual |
| Close neighboring buildings | Vent termination clearances to openings and property lines |
| Older galvanized or mixed piping | Debris and reduced flow at the unit's inlet |
| Raised foundations on older houses | Routing of gas and water lines through the crawlspace |
| Multi-unit buildings | Who owns and maintains each heater; check before scheduling work |
Indoor or outdoor unit?
Indoor unit in a closet
- Protected from weather
- Needs a vent route out of the building
- Condensing models need a drain inside
Outdoor wall-mounted model
- No vent pipe; frees the closet
- Clearances to windows and doors still apply
- Exposed to weather; follow the manual
Who to contact
- City of Fullerton water utility for service questions
- SoCalGas for gas meter and service
- City of Fullerton building department for permits; ask whether exterior changes need extra review in older areas
- The property owner or manager, for rental units
- cslb.ca.gov for contractor license checks
Questions for the plumber
- Where can the vent terminate with proper clearances on this lot?
- Would an outdoor model work better here?
- Do the supply lines need attention before the unit goes in?
Common questions
Is an outdoor tankless unit allowed downtown?
It depends on clearances and any local review of exterior changes. Check with the city and your plumber.
Can one tankless unit serve a small apartment building?
That is a larger design question involving demand and gas supply. A licensed plumber has to size it.
My closet is tiny. Will tankless fit?
Possibly, if service clearances and venting work. The manual lists the clearances.
General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.