A seized handle or a weeping port cap usually means both isolation valves get replaced as a pair, and access is the main thing that shapes the labour cost.
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Quick answer
Tankless isolation valves are typically replaced as a pair once one has seized shut, developed a weep at the body or port cap, or failed to hold pressure during a flush. Replacing just one valve while leaving a similarly aged one in place often means the second follows shortly after, so most technicians recommend doing both at once. Cost is driven mainly by access to the unit's connections and whether the surrounding piping needs any support, with the parts themselves being a modest share of the total. A licensed technician provides a firm number after inspecting the installation.
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None of the approved whole-system cost ranges apply to a valve swap. A full tankless installation ballparks at roughly $3,500 to $7,500, which is a far larger scope than replacing these two fittings. Ask your technician for a firm number once they have seen the connections.
Units mounted in tight mechanical closets typical of Vancouver condos and townhomes can take longer to access than a unit in an open garage, which affects labour time more than it affects the parts themselves. In older character homes where a tankless unit was retrofitted onto existing plumbing, the connecting fittings sometimes need updating at the same time as the valves, which a technician will flag during the inspection rather than as a surprise mid-job.
Safety note
This work involves isolating and opening the water connections of a natural gas-fired appliance and should be done by a licensed technician. If you ever smell gas near the water heater, leave the home immediately and call FortisBC at 1-800-663-9911 before doing anything else.
Often yes, since both valves are typically the same age and a technician will usually recommend replacing them together to avoid a second failure shortly after.
Only if the existing valves cannot hold a seal reliably during the swap; otherwise the work is contained to the unit's own connections.
On an accessible unit it is typically a same-visit job of one to a few hours, including draining, replacement, and pressure testing.
Yes, and doing so in the same visit is usually more efficient since the connections are already being worked on.
Forcing a seized mechanism risks cracking the valve body, which can turn a scheduled repair into an active leak, so a technician will assess rather than force it.
A small weep tends to worsen gradually rather than resolve on its own, so it is worth scheduling a repair rather than waiting for it to become active dripping.
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