A leaking 50-gallon power vent water heater gives you almost no warning before it becomes an emergency. When this Latham homeowner called us, the tank was already leaking onto the basement floor, and the clock was running on hot water for the whole house.
This was the week of Tuesday, Oct. 5, at a single-family home in Latham, New York. The homeowner had been thinking about a tankless water heater for a while, and a failing tank turned a someday upgrade into a right-now decision. Our team walked through what a tankless conversion would involve in that basement, then installed a Laars LT Series 199 high-efficiency unit to replace the old tank.
Key Takeaways
THE CHALLENGE
A 50-gallon power vent water heater was leaking, leaving the home without dependable hot water.THE INSTALL
We installed a Laars LT Series 199 high-efficiency tankless unit, secured to painted plywood and adapted to the existing gas, water, and exhaust connections.THE RESULT
The homeowner gained unlimited hot water, more usable basement space, and an efficient unit backed by our yearly maintenance plan.
Going tankless made sense here for two reasons the homeowner cared about: endless hot water and a smaller footprint. A tank sits there heating 50 gallons whether you need it or not, while a tankless unit fires only when you open a tap. Because the home already had a power vent water heater, the existing exhaust path gave us a clean route to work with instead of starting from scratch.
Project Summary
| Client Profile: | Single-family homeowner |
| Project Location: | Latham, New York |
| Primary Objective: | Replace a leaking 50-gallon power vent tank with on-demand hot water through our Water Heater Installation service. |
| System Installed: | A Laars LT Series 199 high-efficiency unit, installed as part of our Tankless Water Heaters lineup. |
| Key Outcome: | Unlimited hot water, efficient operation, and reclaimed basement floor space |
Diagnosing A Failing Water Heater
The call came in as a bad 50-gallon power vent water heater, and the tank was leaking by the time we arrived. A leaking tank is not a repair conversation — once the vessel itself fails, water keeps coming and the only real fix is replacement.
The homeowner raised tankless right away, so we talked through what that change actually means day to day. We covered how a tankless unit delivers unlimited hot water while staying efficient, and what the swap would require in terms of gas, water, venting, and combustion air in that basement.
Installing The Laars Tankless Unit
We secured the Laars LT Series 199 to plywood we painted first, giving the wall-hung unit a solid, finished mounting surface. From there, we adapted to the existing gas and water lines, then tied into the exhaust line that already ran to the outside of the house from the old power vent heater. The last piece was running a cold air intake so the unit pulls its combustion air from outside rather than from the basement.
Reusing the existing vent path kept the job tidy and kept the work focused where it mattered — the gas and water connections, the mounting, and the dedicated intake. Our licensed master plumbers handle this same conversion across Latham and the surrounding Capital Region, and when a tank lets go after hours, we also run 24/7 Emergency service so you are not waiting out a flooded basement.
Endless Hot Water & Reclaimed Space
The homeowner gained more basement space and unlimited hot water — a double win! That is the trade people notice first: a bulky tank off the floor, replaced by a compact unit on the wall that heats water only when a tap calls for it.
Efficiency was the other half of the conversation, and it is the reason most of our customers ask about tankless in the first place. To protect that performance over the long haul, we offer a yearly maintenance plan that goes right along with the units, so your system gets checked on schedule instead of being forgotten until something goes wrong. If a project like this needs to fit a budget, our Financing Options make the upgrade easier to plan.
★★★★★
"I had a great experience with Duell Plumbing and Heating when Steve and Mason came out to repair my tankless water heater. Both technicians were professional, courteous, and knowledgeable. They did a great job diagnosing and fixing the problem, and I really appreciated their attention to detail and the quality of their work. It’s reassuring to have technicians who take pride in what they do and provide excellent service. Thanks to Steve and Mason for a job well done! I would highly recommend Duell Plumbing and Heating to anyone looking for reliable, professional plumbing and heating service." — Larry
Thinking About Going Tankless?
We have been installing and servicing water heaters across the Capital Region since 1980, and tank-to-tankless conversions are a regular part of our week. Our licensed master plumbers handle the gas, water, venting, and combustion air details so the finished install is clean, safe, and built to last.
Is your water heater leaking, or are you ready for endless hot water in your Latham home? Give us a call and we will walk you through your options honestly — no pressure, no surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace a tank with a tankless water heater in Latham, NY?
Yes. On this Latham project we removed a leaking 50-gallon power vent water heater and installed a Laars LT Series 199 high-efficiency tankless unit in its place. The conversion involves adapting the gas and water connections, sorting out venting, and adding a combustion air intake, all of which our licensed master plumbers handle as part of the install.
Will a tankless water heater really free up basement space?
It does, and space is one of the questions we hear most often on estimates. A tankless unit mounts on the wall instead of standing on the floor, so the footprint a 50-gallon tank used to occupy comes back to you. This Latham homeowner ended up with more basement space plus unlimited hot water.
Does a tankless water heater need yearly maintenance?
Yes, and it is one of the biggest questions homeowners ask before making the switch. Annual service keeps the unit running efficiently and catches small issues early. We offer a yearly maintenance plan that goes along with the units we install, so your system stays on a regular schedule.