Have a 50 gallon standard water heater that is leaking, and want to replace it with a tankess water heater, need to know the requirements for the size of the gas line i would need.
As a precaution, you should check with the manufacturer for the required gas volume and pressure requirements needed to properly supply the unit, and that will help to determine the pipe size and configuration.
In mast cases you'll find that If you are installing the tankless unit at or very near the location of the existing W/H then there should be no reason to change the pipe diameter from the 1/2" feed that is already in use to the existing W/H.
My view is, the current configuration that supplies a 50 gal. W/H should deliver ample volume and pressure to the new tankless unit.
If the tankless unit is to be installed at a different location then the existing W/H then the general rule of thumb is,
3/4-inch
black iron pipe can be run up to about 20 feet of length from the gas
meter or regulator, and 1-inch black iron pipe can be run for distances
up to 70 feet. If other gas appliances are also in the home (gas range, gas clothes
dryer and furnace, for examples), larger diameter gas piping may be
required to run all appliances at the same time. Keep in mind that in
new construction this is easy to plan, but in a remodel, adding larger
gas line piping can add to costs of time and materials. Additionally,
elevations more than 4,000 feet above sea level may require adjustments
for the unit to run properly.
Note: Check with your local plumbing code for your areas requirements.
Good luck
Aduz
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