Home/How It Works

Four steps. Ten days.
One hot shower.

From your first online estimate to endless hot water is typically 8–12 business days — most of which is Montgomery County permit processing. Install day itself is a single, clean visit.

Step 1: Instant estimate (30 sec)Step 2: Free consult (45 min)Step 3: Permit (5-7 days)Step 4: Install (1 day)
01
Day 0 · 30 seconds online

Get your instant estimate.

Answer six quick questions on our homepage: bathroom count, household size, current fuel, heater age, whether you want recirculation, and your ZIP code. Our estimator recommends your tier, shows your fixed price, and breaks down every rebate you'll qualify for.

  • No email required to see results — transparency from the first click
  • Algorithm maps your answers to the right Navien or Rinnai unit
  • Rebate math calibrated to your Montgomery County address
  • Optional: email yourself the PDF estimate for your records
Example output
Recommended tierSignature
UnitNavien NPE-240A2
Fixed price$5,295
Stacked rebates−$1,400
Net price$3,895
02
Day 1-2 · 45 minutes in home

Free in-home consult.

A licensed MD master plumber comes to your home at a time you choose. This is not a sales visit — it's a technical verification. We measure gas pressure, confirm vent path, inspect electrical, and verify all ten published stipulations. You'll get a final, locked-in quote at the end of the visit.

  • Actual manifold gas pressure reading (not just meter inspection)
  • Vent path measurement and photos for permit application
  • Water hardness test (Rockville/Potomac water is notably hard)
  • Financing pre-approval via Wisetack (soft credit pull, 60 seconds)
  • Locked-in quote — no back-office callback, no pricing games
What we bring
Gas manometer✓
Water hardness test strips✓
Combustible gas detector✓
Laser measure✓
Montgomery County permit forms✓
03
Day 3-10 · We do the waiting

We pull the Montgomery County permit.

Once you sign, we file the permit within 24 hours. Montgomery County typically turns around water heater permits in 5–7 business days. During this waiting period we also place your equipment order, coordinate with Washington Gas if any meter work is needed, and confirm your preferred install day.

  • Permit filed within 24 hours of signed agreement
  • Washington Gas meter coordination (if upgrade needed)
  • Equipment ordered direct from Rinnai/Navien for freshest units
  • Install day locked — typically Tuesday or Wednesday
  • Day-before text reminder with technician name and ETA
Permit tracking
Day 3Permit filed
Day 6Permit approved
Day 7Equipment delivered
Day 8Pre-install SMS
Day 9-10Install day
04
Day 10 · 6-8 hours on site

Install day — one clean visit.

Our two-tech team arrives at 8am. By lunchtime the old tank is gone, by mid-afternoon the new unit is wall-mounted and commissioned, and before dinner you're taking the first of infinite hot showers. The Montgomery County inspector visits within 5 days post-install to sign off.

  • Shoe covers + drop cloths — your floors stay clean
  • Old tank drained, disconnected, hauled away
  • New unit wall-mounted with isolation/service valves
  • Gas, water, vent, condensate, electrical all connected
  • System pressure tested, flushed, commissioned, and labeled
  • 15-min walkthrough: app setup, recirc programming, descale schedule
  • Inspector scheduled within 5 business days
Install day checklist
Arrival8:00 AM
Old tank out12:00 PM
New unit mounted2:00 PM
Commissioning3:30 PM
First hot shower5:00 PM
Install day, hour by hour

What actually happens in your home that Tuesday.

No surprises, no contractor drama. Here's the realistic timeline for a typical Montgomery County tankless install — with the mess, the dust, and the dog all accounted for.

8:00
Arrival and walkthrough
Two-tech team arrives with shoe covers and drop cloths. Quick walkthrough to confirm install location, review the day's plan, and take "before" photos for rebate paperwork. Your dog can stay out — we're friendly.
8:30
Old tank shutdown and drain
Gas supply closed, water inlet closed, power disconnected. Tank drained via the basement utility sink or garden hose out to the driveway. Takes about an hour for a 50-gal tank.
10:00
Old tank removal and haul-away
Tank disconnected from gas, water, and vent. Hauled out through the most convenient exit path. Loaded onto our truck for proper recycling — never left in your yard or driveway.
11:30
New unit wall mounting
Mounting bracket lagged into studs or masonry. Unit hung — typically a Navien NPE-240A2 at about 80 lbs. Isolation valves and service valves installed at this stage so future maintenance is easy.
1:00
Gas, water, venting, condensate
Gas line connected with drip leg and shut-off. Water supply and hot-out lines connected through isolation valves. Concentric vent run to exterior wall. Condensate line tied into utility drain. Electrical plugged into nearby 120V outlet.
3:00
Pressure test and initial flush
Gas line pressure-tested for leaks. Water lines flushed of construction debris before pressurizing the new unit. Condensate line tested by running hot water through the unit and watching for drainage.
4:00
Commissioning and Wi-Fi setup
Unit fired up, error codes checked, initial temperature calibrated (typically 120°F). Wi-Fi connected and app paired with your phone if you chose Signature+. Recirculation schedule programmed around your morning routine.
4:30
Homeowner walkthrough
15-minute walkthrough: how to use the app, where the service valves are, how to shut it off in an emergency, when to expect the annual flush reminder, who to text with questions.
5:00
Cleanup and first hot shower
Drop cloths rolled up, shoe covers bagged, site swept. We don't leave until your utility area looks cleaner than when we arrived. Take your first hot shower before we're out of the driveway.

Ready to start at step one?

Get your instant estimate in 30 seconds, or book a free in-home consult directly. Either path gets you to the same place — endless hot water in 8-12 business days.

10d
Consult to hot shower