Heating water accounts for approximately 18 percent of home utility costs. If you want to reduce energy usage without sacrificing comfort, tankless water heaters can result in energy savings of between 8 and 50 percent depending on how they are installed and how much hot water you use. However, improper installation and poor maintenance can cause problems with on-demand water heaters. To reduce the potential for problems and get the greatest energy-saving benefit, ask a qualified Houston plumber to install your tankless unit.
Here are several common problems with tankless water heaters and ways to fix them.
Mineral Buildup
The performance of any hot water heater can be affected by mineral buildup. If you live in an area with hard water and water flows slowly, mineral buildup is often the problem.
Santhoff Plumbing Company offers a range of Houston water heater repair services to keep your plumbing running smoothly. To resolve mineral buildup, we recommend flushing the water heater at least once a year to remove deposits. As part of maintenance, our technicians open the unit and clean the components. We also install water softeners that remove minerals.
No Hot Water Due to High Demand
If demand is greater than the hot water tank’s ability to supply it, you may experience episodes of no hot water. The low-cost solution is to avoid simultaneous use. Try running the dishwasher or doing laundry when no one is taking a shower. Although reducing demand resolves the issue, it is inconvenient.
Santhoff Plumbing offers several solutions to this problem. Adjusting venting, rate of flow, and temperature can help. We often recommend installing another point-of-use unit to meet a specific demand, such as in a bathroom or near a dishwasher. Tankless units can also be installed in parallel to smooth out demand. Another option is to install a whole-house unit with increased capacity.
Ignition or Flame Problems
There can be problems with gas pressure or clogged ignitions on gas units. Problems can include improper venting, clogged lines, lines that are too small, improper combustion, or partially closed water valves.
In these situations, it is best to have a licensed Houston plumber troubleshoot the problem. Working with gas can be dangerous. The certified technicians at Santhoff Plumbing are licensed to work with gas. For us, safety is a high priority. We look at all elements of the system to ensure that there are no leaks or other problems with gas lines.
Santhoff Plumbing offers an array of plumbing solutions for both residential and commercial properties, from Houston toilet repair to plumbing design and installation for new construction. To learn more about tankless hot water heaters, call an expert Houston plumber at Santhoff Plumbing at (713) 360-2185. We provide 24/7 emergency services.