Water Heaters

Since 1984, Narrow Way has provided the greater Boston community with exceptional local service for both heating and plumbing needs. We strive to provide the best solutions for our customers for all their plumbing issues. Our team of trained technicians works on any type of potable water heating device including: instant hot water heaters, standard tank type water heaters, large commercial water heaters, power vented water heaters, and boiler heated/domestic hot water systems. We respond very quickly to no hot water calls and consider them a priority. Our A+ rating from the Boston, MA Better Business Bureau underscores our unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

Standard Tank Type Water Heater

Tank type water heaters provide the home with hot water by storing and continuously heating a tank of water (usually 30-50 gallons). These systems can operate with natural gas or electric as a power supply and are the standard in the plumbing world. Tank type water heaters typically last 6-10 years, but routine maintenance and servicing can extend the lifespan of these units.

Standard water heater services we would recommend:

Flush the water heater yearly to remove mineral buildup at the bottom of the tank.
Replace the sacrificial anode rod every 4 years.
Check your tag on the water heater tank, if it reads ASHRAE / EIS rating of 90, then it is already factory insulated and does not need additional insulation. If not insulate it

Every house and family has different water needs and our trained technicians are ready to provide you with solutions for your situation.

Tankless Water Heater

The concept of instant, on-demand water heating dates back to the late 1800 from Germany but it wasn’t until the 1990s that the technology really broke into the North American market. These revolutionary systems offer a new level of efficiency and convenience that traditional tanks cannot match. These units provide endless hot water ensuring you never have a cold shower again. Tankless systems work by heating the water as you use it, the sophisticated technology is able to measure water usage through a flow sensor and adjust the heater to maximize efficiency while heating the water as you use it.

Tankless systems can last 15-20 years with proper maintenance. These systems have many more working parts and routine maintenance is recommended to keep the peak efficiency and longevity of your system. We offer general servicing of equipment, repairs, and deep cleans to keep your system working well.

These systems are excellent in the right applications, they are particularly good for compact tight areas and excellent for a summer home, Jacuzzis, hot tubs, large bath tubs, and high demand faucets. Making an informed decision is crucial, and our team is ready to provide you with the solutions and recommendations for your hot water needs.

When you are considering upgrading your hot water equipment or need repairs contact our office and schedule a technician to visit your home.

Electric Heat Pump

Heat pump water heaters represent a significant advancement in water heating technology. Unlike traditional models, a Rheem® Hybrid heat pump water heater uses a highly efficient heat transfer process to draw in ambient air and convert it into heat. These systems rely less on direct electrical power from an element and can therefore generate substantial energy savings. For those interested in maximizing efficiency for water heater installation, repair, or replacement, a heat pump model is an excellent choice particularly if your home has solar electricity.

Indirect water heater

Many Boston homes utilize forced hot water or steam to heat the house during the bitter New England winters. Indirect water heaters utilize the heat produced by your boiler system to heat the domestic hot water for your house. A boiler system’s water is separated from the hot water you use at your faucet. A heat exchanger is used to transfer the heat from the boiler water to the domestic water. This heat exchanger is located inside of the indirect water heater. These systems are more efficient than direct fired tanks and have a higher recovery rate allowing you to maximize hot water capacity while keeping your tank small. Indirect water heaters are the longest lasting style of water heater often lasting several decades if properly maintained.

Contact our team to see if an indirect water heater is right for you and compatible with your home.

Combination Boiler

Combination Boilers provide both heat and domestic hot water to your house using a single piece of equipment. They internally separate the water used for heat from the water used for domestic purposes, but combine the two functions into one condensed unit. These systems are highly efficient and safe a large amount of space within the home. In the past 40 years working in Boston we have worked on almost every style of high efficiency boiler from Triangle Tube, Lochinvar, Laars, Navien, A.O. Smith, Bosch, Viessmann, Weil-Mclain and may more.

Contact our team to get more information on combi-boiler installations or repairs.

Commercial Water Heaters

We work closely with several local businesses, hotels, restaurants, and apartment management companies to provide the reliable hot water supply that is necessary for any successful business. We provide expert installation, maintenance, and repair of high-capacity commercial water heaters. Commercial units are typically high recovery units that are 100 gallons or more. These systems are required by Massachusetts code to be ASME certified and installed in code compliant manor. We understand downtime costs money and upset tenants, which is why we work to efficiently minimize down time and disruptions.