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Tankless water heaters are perfect if you want to improve your home. They are not only energy-efficient, but they can also save you money by only heating water when it is needed. But what happens if your water heater ceases to function properly? Although a tankless water heater requires less maintenance, it is subject to a variety of problems. This article discusses five of the most common tankless water heater problems and maintenance concerns that you might want to know.

For your water heater repair needs, do not hesitate to contact BroadRiver Plumbing. Our plumbers are uniformed, licensed, and insured. Call us for free estimates. You can count on us 24/7! 

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Watch out for mineral buildup inside your water heater. This applies whether you have a regular or tankless water heater. Hard water (as opposed to soft water) contains a high mineral concentration, and the harder your water is, the greater the risk of mineral buildup. The minerals calcium and magnesium are the most common causes of scaly accumulation, which can compromise the function of your water heater if not addressed. It’s also crucial to check the water filter in your tankless water heater, especially if you use well water. Well water can cause more material to build up in your tankless water heater, making it difficult for water to pass through the lengthy, narrow passage to the heat exchanger. If your water filter is not checked on a regular basis, debris might become stuck in this long path causing your water filter to fail to function. 

The display on most tankless water heaters will flash an error code to alert you that your air supply or exhaust is blocked. When this happens, it means that your water heater is experiencing problems with either the combustion air or the venting. The first step is to inspect all vent pipes to ensure that they are properly connected and free of puncture holes. Next, consult your product manual to ensure that the clearance requirements are met before installing your water heater. Installing your water heater too close to other objects can cause an air supply to be blocked, resulting in a fire hazard. If you notice any signs of clogging in your vents, check them thoroughly. Also, check any vents outside your residence for nests of birds, mice, or wasps.

Tankless water heaters have a hot surface ignition method for propane or natural gas. Buying a water heater with a hot surface igniter provides low emissions and good fuel economy. This sort of ignition system uses silicon-based miniature electric components. If your tankless water heater isn’t providing you hot water, the ignition system may be damaged. 

Hot surface ignition system parts get warm when a tankless water heater is turned on. Pre-igniting the incoming natural gas with a hot surface igniter is next. No hot water from your faucets or shower indicates a faulty part in the ignition system. A faulty water or gas valve can result in a lack of warm water. 

Because the hot surface igniter is partially closed, it cannot receive enough natural gas to heat water. The easiest solution is to open the gas and water valves to ensure the tankless water heater gets enough water and gas. Next, use propane for your tankless water heater. Your cold shower could be due to an empty propane tank on your property. To get warm water flowing again, you’ll need to refuel your propane tank.

Investing in a tankless water heater eliminates cold showers. If you’ve ever had to shower just after a family member, you’re familiar with the chilly shower. Even though a tankless water heater is supposed to provide instant hot water, it can take a few seconds to heat up. 

A typical tankless water heater issue is cold water. If you walk into a warm shower and then find cold water, you may wonder why your water heater isn’t providing hot water. The tankless water heater’s location causes this issue. For example, if your water heater is placed far from your bathroom. In that case, it will take several seconds or minutes before warm water reaches your shower. 

Sadly, there is no straightforward remedy for your tankless water heater. The quickest approach to avoid a cold shower is to wait a minute after turning on the water tap. Allow the cold water to depart the pipes first before entering the shower.

A large number of simultaneous hot water usage (such as many showers running at the same time) may cause your water heater to overheat. If your water heater becomes overloaded, it may struggle to provide the hot water you require, or it may even shut down completely. Whenever this occurs, you should lower the demand for hot water by minimizing the number of simultaneous uses, and you may want to try resetting your water heater. You should, however, consider upgrading to a tankless water heater with a bigger capacity, or installing a second unit, if your tankless water heater repeatedly becomes overwhelmed. 

BroadRiver Plumbing is committed to providing outstanding customer service and high-quality craftsmanship to all of its clients. We work diligently to maintain our exceptional reputation. BroadRiver Plumbing is trustworthy, and we guarantee that the service will be completed accurately and at a fair price.