The great thing about tankless water heaters is that they are very sturdy devices. In fact, they typically have fewer maintenance needs than a tank water heater, which is just part of the reason homeowners choose tankless systems over the more traditional water heater models.
This doesn’t mean, however, that your tankless water heater will never need repairs. Nor does it mean that you should attempt repairs on your own, as this can void the warranty and cause more harm than good.
But how do you know when a tankless system needs repair? Some signs are more apparent than others, and we’ve covered these below. Read on!
A Decline in Hot Water Ouput
If you frequently take really long, hot shower, or if you have people running hot water at multiple locations in the house at the same time, then you’ll probably overwhelm your tankless water heater at some point. However, there’s a difference between overwhelming the water heater in this way and when your tankless water heater just can’t generate the output for even a moderate amount of hot water.
A tankless system works “on-demand,” meaning as soon as there is a request from a hot water tap or appliance for hot water, the heat exchangers turn on, and you’re given hot water. If the heat exchangers have a problem, like scaling buildup from hard water, then they might not be able to as effectively heat the water.
Also, while it’s more common in a tank system, sediment can build up too. This sediment builds up due to the aforementioned hard water–this is water with a high level of minerals in it–namely iron, calcium, and magnesium.
Sudden Temperature Fluctuations
As we alluded to above, a tankless water heater can be overwhelmed if there is too much demand on it at once. But if your usage of this system hasn’t changed and yet you’re experiencing sudden temperature fluctuations, then there is almost definitely a problem with your tankless water heater.
Leakage
You should never, ever, see leaks from the device where the heat exchangers are located in your tankless water heater. Even the smallest of leaks is cause for alarm, and you should give our team a call. These small leaks can grow, until you have property damage and/or a completely broken down tankless water heater.
The Importance of Tankless Water Heater Maintenance
Homeowners often don’t realize just how important it is that they have routine maintenance done on their tankless water heater systems. With tank systems, they’re big and they have a lot of components, and it’s pretty easy to see why they might need professional care.
With a tankless system, things aren’t always so obvious. But as we mentioned above, hard water and scaling can create problems for tankless systems. If mineral deposits/scaling coat the heat exchangers of the system, then this will prevent hot water from coming through, as the heat exchangers won’t be able to heat the water.
When you’re ready to schedule water heater repair in Roanoke, VA, contact W.C. Butler Heating and Air Conditioning!