Signs That You Need to Get Your Tankless Water Heater Serviced
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Posted October 22, 2021
Your tankless water heater is vital to the functionality of your home. If it goes bad, you’ll have trouble washing dishes, taking showers, and facilitating a number of other responsibilities. For this reason, you must keep an eye on your water heater, and make sure that it’s still in good shape. Wondering what you should be looking out for? Then keep on reading. Here are the signs that you need to service your tankless water heater.
Signs That Your Tankless Water Heater Needs Service
There are more than a few signs that a tankless water heater requires service. The most prominent of these signs include the following.
Your Water Pressure Is Off
Over time, as it’s exposed to contaminated water, a water heater can become filled with various minerals. These minerals can, in turn, cling to the water heater, thereby restricting its water passageways.
The result of this? Inconsistencies in water pressure throughout the home. In some cases, water pressure will be much higher than normal; in other cases, water pressure will be much lower than normal.
Regardless, you’re dealing with a problem, one that can be fixed by a professional plumber. So, make the call to your local plumber and your water pressure will be back to normal in no time.
Your Water Heater Is Shutting Off Randomly
In some cases, when a water heater is impaired, it will start shutting off randomly. This is due to a fault within the water heater. The fault puts additional strain on the heater’s components, causing them to overheat and shut down.
Fortunately, this is a fix. Bring your plumber in for a repair session and he or she will have your heater maintained properly in no time.
Your Water Heater Is Telling You It Needs Attention
These days, the majority of water heaters are equipped with digital screens. The great thing about these screens is that they can communicate with their users, telling them when their corresponding water heaters are experiencing complications.
If your digital screen gives you a warning signal, you need to take it seriously. It might not spell immediate doom. But it does signal that severe complications are potentially around the corner.
So, bring in your local plumber to find the source of the problem. He or she will detect it and then make any necessary repairs.
Your Tankless Water Heater Is Leaking
Tankless water heaters are meant to contain the water that runs through them. As such, if there’s ever water leaking out of your water heater, you know there’s something wrong with it.
This is generally indicative of a severe structural issue. At the very least, your water heater will require intensive repairs. However, in some cases, a full replacement will be needed.
Your Water Can’t Stay Hot for the Duration of a Shower
The average shower takes around 8 minutes. This is nowhere near enough time for a water heater’s supply to run out. As such, if you’re losing hot water by the end of your shower, you know there’s a problem. Bring in a plumber for an inspection and water heater service.
Your Water Isn’t Hot at All
The surest sign that your water heater requires attention is that your water isn’t hot. After all, the entire point of a water heater is to, well, heater water.
You probably won’t hesitate to call for help at this point. You need hot water for tons of everyday tasks, from washing dishes to showering to washing clothes and more. So, call up your plumber and get the necessary fix.
Tankless Water Heater Maintenance
Regardless of what you do, you’re bound to deal with water heater issues from time to time. Note, however, that the better job you do of maintaining your water heater, the fewer issues it will deal with.
Curious as to what water heater maintenance entails? Read on for more information.
Remove the Minerals from Your Water
One of the most common causes of water heater issues is mineral buildup. As such, the more minerals that exist in your water, the more frequently your water hater will experience breakdowns.
The solution to this problem? Remove as many of the minerals as possible. This can be done with water conditioning systems like water softeners, iron filtration systems, and the like. Keep them functional, and you’ll rid your water of minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium.
Flush Your Water Heater
In addition to proactively removing minerals from your water, you should also be sure to flush your water heater regularly. Generally, a flush every 12 months or so will suffice.
Have It Inspected By a Professional
Even if you flush your water heater on your own, you’re still advised to have it checked out by a professional on a yearly basis. A professional plumber will be able to inspect the water heater thoroughly, ensuring that there are no trouble spots cropping up. Your plumber will also flush out your water heater, giving it a thorough cleaning and making sure that it’s operating at an optimal level.
There are all kinds of small water heater problems that a professional plumber can nip in the bud. But they have to be able to detect them first. So, schedule an appointment and ensure that nothing goes unchecked.
What to Look for When Hiring a Plumber for Service
If you’re noticing signs of impairment in your water heater, you’re advised to bring in a plumber to handle the problem. Whether it requires a repair or a replacement, a plumber will facilitate service in the most efficient and optimal manner.
When searching for a plumber, keep an eye out for the following characteristics.
Experience
The first thing you should take into account is experience. Your plumber should have at least a few years of professional experience under his or her belt. Experience is necessary for honing plumbing skills and minimizing plumbing mistakes.
When searching for a plumber for the purpose of fixing your tankless water heater, you should ensure that he or she has tankless water heater experience, in particular. If your plumber has never dealt with tankless water heaters before, or if he or she has only worked on a few of them, he or she might not be able to provide you with the level of service you deserve.
A Solid Reputation
Perhaps the most important thing to look for is a solid reputation. Generally speaking, if a plumber has a good reputation, he or she will provide good service.
To get a feel for a plumber’s reputation, take to Google, Yelp, or Facebook and read the reviews from past customers. These should help you determine what a specific plumber has to offer and might also answer some questions for you.
Good Products
Your water heater might only require a repair. But if it requires a tankless water heater replacement, you want to make sure that you’re installing a high-quality new model.
Most plumbers have suppliers from whom they get their water heaters. So, when perusing potential plumbers, you need to find out what types of water heaters they offer. Then, research the offered models and make sure they measure up to your expectations.
Labor Warranties
All water heaters come with warranties of some kind. These warranties generally cover malfunctions of their parts so that if the water heater starts misbehaving, the owner doesn’t have to pay for repairs, at least for a short time. Manufacturers’ warranties should be sought after.
But in addition to manufacturer’s warranties, you also want to keep an eye out for labor warranties. Labor warranties are offered by plumbers. They cover the work that the plumbers do.
When choosing a plumber to service your water heater, you need to make sure that he or she offers such a warranty. This way, you won’t be held financially liable for further repairs.
Reasonable Rates
Different plumbers charge different rates. As such, when searching for a plumber to service your tankless water heater, you need to ask for cost estimates.
It’s wise to avoid plumbers whose estimates are exceedingly low, as low rates often indicate poor service. At the same time, you don’t want to blow your bank account on services that you could get for half the cost.
Find a few different estimates and compare. Then, choose the option that you’re most comfortable with.
Need Help With Your Tankless Water Heater?
Is your tankless water heater on the fritz? Do you need help with it? If so, we here at Happy Hiller are the people to see.
We’re well-versed in the repair and replacement of tankless water heaters. Regardless of the problem yours is facing, our team can fix it.
Contact us today to request an appointment!
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