Thank Your Plumbers — For Real!

Thank Your Plumbers — For Real!

3 Common Problems with Tankless Water Heaters

by Bill Turner

If the thought of a cold shower makes you cringe, then you understand the importance of a functional water heater. A tankless water heater is efficient, durable (lasts up to 20 years), and saves space since it's smaller than a standard tank-based heater. However, tankless units (also on-demand water heaters) are susceptible to some issues that undermine their performance. 

Understand the common problems you will likely encounter with your tankless water heater. 

Mineral Buildup

Hard water has a high concentration of minerals like calcium and magnesium. Over time, these minerals accumulate on your system's internal components and pipes. This scaly buildup eventually impairs the water heater function if you fail to act quickly. 

For instance, units with iron components and pipes will start to rust. Mineral build-up blocks the path hot water passes through, which results in reduced water pressure in your home. A clear sign of mineral buildup in your system is discolored hot water (brown or yellow) with a foul odor. 

To solve this problem, enlist the help of a plumbing service to flush your heating system. Flushing involves draining all the water in your water heater to remove all accumulated minerals and sediments. Don't forget to install a scale filter or use a water softener to minimize the mineral buildup in your heater.

System Overload

A system overload happens when you heat more water than the recommended capacity. When hot water demand is too high, your heater can shut down if it can't access sufficient gas to heat enough water. High hot water demand arises from running many hot water appliances simultaneously, such as operating a dishwasher while another person takes a hot shower.

If you do this, your system overworks, which causes it to overheat and eventually shut down. A good sign of an overloaded system is when you get hot water, and other users don't. To fix this issue, don't run multiple hot water fixtures at the same time.

If system overloading is a frequent occurrence, you should install a second unit or a system with a higher heating capacity. This way, you will have an abundant hot water supply for all your needs. 

Ignition Failure

A common culprit for ignition failure is the gas supply. Firstly, ensure your propane tank isn't empty and that the water or gas valves are in the correct position. If you use natural gas, pay your bills on time to ensure a constant gas supply. Otherwise, your utility company may cut off supply.

If ignition problems persist, the chances are that the ignition system has a broken component or loose wiring. The burner or ignition plug may also have debris that hinders ignition. At this point, you should contact a professional to fix and replace the damaged parts of your unit.

Luckily, most of these issues are repairable if you address them on time, so you don't need to invest in a replacement unit. Reach out to water heater repair services for expert tankless water heater repair. 


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Thank Your Plumbers — For Real!

When you have a plumber come work on your home, we hope you thank them. Really, you should be thanking any contractor who works on your home, but we are a little partial to plumbers and happen to think they deserve a little more recognition. After all, the stuff inside the pipes they work on doesn't usually smell very good. And even though they wear gloves, they have to get pretty close to it! If you would like to learn a little more about plumbers, then we invite you to read this blog. After learning the basics, you'll really want to thank your plumbers!

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