Not that many years ago, we wouldn’t have developed a blog on tankless water heater repairs. That’s because it was a new technology that not many people even knew about.
Well, fast forward several years, and you’ll find that tankless water heaters abound in Aurora, Northern Ohio, and just about everywhere else in the US. Some, in fact, have been in use by homeowners so long that repair issues have started to spring up.
Here’s how to determine if your tankless water heater would benefit from a service call by a member of the Norhio Plumbing service team.
A blast of cold water
Tankless water heaters supply unlimited hot water, but not from the moment you turn on a faucet. The water still must travel to the fixture or appliance. If your water heater is on one side of the house, and your shower on the other, it may take a few moments to clear out the cooled water that’s been sitting in the connecting pipes. If you jump right in the shower, that few-second blast of cold water isn’t a signal of something wrong. It’s just the system playing catchup.
Mineral buildup
Mineral build-up can be unkind to storage tank and tankless water heaters alike. Magnesium and calcium create a scaly buildup inside the equipment that can have damaging effects. To avoid problems, flush the system every year or so. Some newer models even have sensors that nudge you when it’s time for maintenance.
System overload
Tankless water heaters are limited to how much hot water they can produce at any given time. That’s why it’s important to make sure you get the right size system. Even still, you may notice the system having trouble keeping up when multiple fixtures are in use. If that’s the case, perhaps your needs have grown and it’s time to upgrade to a larger model.
Corrosion
Tankless water heaters don’t easily corrode because they don’t heat water all the time – but they can still corrode. For example, condensation around the gas burner can corrode it, and a corroded gas burner can suffer blockage or leakage. The heat exchanger can also corrode and cause the system to overheat.
Your tankless water heater also may display messages such as “no ignition” or “flame failure”. “No ignition,” for example, means the water heater is trying to light, but can’t. It could be a problem related to the gas supply, or equipment venting.
No matter what kind of water heater you have, rest assured that Norhio Plumbing maintains and repairs most makes and models – no doubt including yours. For the kind of expert and timely service you’ve grown to expect, contact us today.
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