Are you thinking about installing a tankless water heater but unsure if it’s the right choice? While tankless water heaters generally cost more upfront, they can be a worthwhile investment due to their many advantages over traditional storage-tank models. For example, you’ll never run out of hot water, regardless of how long your shower lasts.
Tankless units also boast a significantly longer lifespan. Additionally, their maintenance requirements are much lower than those of traditional water heaters. However, regular maintenance is still crucial to ensure that a tankless water heater operates efficiently and has a long service life. Let’s explore the types of maintenance tankless water heaters require and explain why hiring a plumber for maintenance is the best choice.
Maintenance Requirements for a Tankless Water Heater
The specific maintenance needs of a tankless water heater can differ depending on the brand, model, and type you have. For instance, only some units have a filter on the cold water inlet, which is designed to prevent impurities, such as sediment and mineral deposits, from entering the water heater and potentially clogging it. If your unit has a water filter, it’s important to clean it regularly or replace it if the unit doesn’t have a reusable filter. If not, it will eventually become clogged, reducing the water heater’s flow rate and resulting in weak showers. A reduced flow rate also means you may not be able to use hot water in more than one place at a time without the temperature continually fluctuating or the water not being fully hot.
Many gas water heaters also have an air intake filter that needs to be cleaned occasionally. The purpose of this filter is to ensure dust and debris don’t get sucked in through the air intake and potentially clog up the heat exchanger assembly, burner, and fan. If you let this filter get too dirty, it can significantly restrict the amount of air drawn into the unit and create combustion issues. One concern is that if the burners don’t continually receive sufficient airflow, it increases the chances of carbon monoxide being produced. Insufficient airflow can also result in the unit displaying an error code, meaning it won’t turn on until the problem is fixed and the unit is reset.
You will usually need to remove a few screws before you can pull the filter out. If the filter isn’t too dirty, you can generally clean it just by gently scrubbing the dust away with a toothbrush. If the filter is overly dirty, you may need to clean it gently with warm, soapy water. In this case, make sure to let the filter dry completely before putting it back in. It’s also important that no one uses any hot water while you’re cleaning the filter to ensure that no dust and debris get sucked into the unit.
The most important task for maintaining a tankless water heater is descaling and flushing it, which is something every unit requires. Even if your unit has a filter on the cold water inlet, limescale and mineral deposits will still build up inside it over time. This is especially true if you have hard water. The purpose of descaling the water heater is to remove lime and mineral deposits, ensuring the unit continues to function correctly and heat efficiently.
One concern is that mineral deposits accumulate on the unit’s heat exchanger, which can cause the water to no longer reach a sufficiently high temperature. These deposits can also damage the exchanger and cause the water heater to fail prematurely. Additionally, mineral deposits can get in the pipes of the water heater, resulting in a reduced flow rate. Descaling your water heater helps prevent these problems, assuring you always have sufficient hot water. It also helps keep your water heating bills lower by ensuring your water heater works efficiently and can prevent costly repairs.
Descaling and flushing can prevent pipes from becoming clogged and leaking at the fittings. High pressure inside the pipes may lead to a burst, causing water to flood the area. Maintenance allows plumbers to catch warning signs early, allowing us to address issues before they require major repairs to your tankless water heater.
How Often Do You Need to Descale a Tankless Water Heater?
The general recommendation is to descale and flush your tankless water heater at least once a year. However, you may only need to descale your water heater every few years if you have a water softener, as the softener significantly reduces the buildup of mineral deposits inside the unit. On the other hand, if your house has hard water, you should descale your water heater at least twice a year.
How to Descale and Flush a Tankless Water Heater
Descaling and flushing a tankless water heater isn’t difficult, but it requires special equipment and typically takes around an hour. First, turn off the gas or electricity to guarantee the water heater doesn’t run while you’re descaling it. Then, shut off the water to the unit and release the pressure inside to avoid being scalded by hot water.
Descaling a tankless water heater requires connecting a hose to the cold water inlet and hot water outlet pipes, and then using a sump pump to run a descaling solution through the unit. You should leave the pump running for around 45 minutes to an hour to ensure that all of the lime and mineral deposits get broken down. After that, flush the unit by running clean water through it with the pump for at least 15 minutes to ensure that all mineral deposits are washed out.
Can You Descale a Tankless Water Heater Yourself?
If you’re slightly handy and have the proper tools and equipment, you should be able to descale and flush your water heater yourself quite easily. Most manufacturers allow homeowners to do this themselves and often provide detailed instructions in the owner’s manual on how to do it. However, it’s important to note that most manufacturers also state that your warranty will be void if you cause damage to your water heater while attempting to perform maintenance yourself.
That’s one reason hiring a professional plumber for this task is the right choice, as it helps prevent any potential warranty issues and avoids costly repairs or replacements of your water heater. The other reason to hire a professional is that they will perform an inspection and be able to spot other plumbing issues you might not have noticed.
If you’re in search of honest, dependable plumbing services in San Jose or the surrounding areas, Plumbtree Plumbing & Rooter is the right choice. We’re a local, family-operated company dedicated to providing premier plumbing solutions at fair prices. Our expert plumbers can help maintain your tankless water heater and are also the go-to company for tankless water heater installation. For more information or to schedule any plumbing, drain, or sewer service, contact us today.
