Upgrading water heater

Wellcome1 · Apr 16, 2022

I currently have a well water set up. I have an electric water heater (50 gallon / 240v / 30 amp breaker). It is on its way out and I would like to upgrade to a tankless water heater (electrical would be the easiest / although I do have propane on the property). The tankless water heaters that I can find are 240v / 60 amp. My breaker panel box is 200 amps. Would i have to substitute the 30 amp for a 60 amp breaker and up grade the wiring to make the tankless water heater work? Is substituting the 30 amp breaker as easy as buying a 60 amp and putting it in? Or do I need more room in the breaker panel box to add the 60 amp? I am a general contractor so I have a better idea of how to work through issues, but electrical has never been my strength. Any sort of advice would be appreciated.

Megawatt · Apr 17, 2022

Wellcome1 said:
I currently have a well water set up. I have an electric water heater (50 gallon / 240v / 30 amp breaker). It is on its way out and I would like to upgrade to a tankless water heater (electrical would be the easiest / although I do have propane on the property). The tankless water heaters that I can find are 240v / 60 amp. My breaker panel box is 200 amps. Would i have to substitute the 30 amp for a 60 amp breaker and up grade the wiring to make the tankless water heater work? Is substituting the 30 amp breaker as easy as buying a 60 amp and putting it in? Or do I need more room in the breaker panel box to add the 60 amp? I am a general contractor so I have a better idea of how to work through issues, but electrical has never been my strength. Any sort of advice would be appreciated.

First off and not to insult your intelligence make sure you turn off the main breaker. Having said that all you need to do is remove the 30 amp breaker and replace it with a 60 breaker and use # 6 wire

Wellcome1 · Apr 17, 2022

Megawatt said:
First off and not to insult your intelligence make sure you turn off the main breaker. Having said that all you need to do is remove the 30 amp breaker and replace it with a 60 breaker and use # 6 wire

No insult taken. Thank you!