5 Common Tankless Water Heater Problems

A tankless water heater is a worthwhile investment for your home or business. Unlike conventional tank-style water heaters which continuously heat stored water to a set temperature, tankless units heat water only when it’s needed. Tankless water heaters are energy-efficient, take up less space, and offer a continuous supply of hot water. So it’s easy to see why they are gaining tremendous popularity in many homes and businesses. Of course, no plumbing fixture is without problems, including tankless water heaters.

Let’s look at the common tankless water heater problems you may encounter and how to deal with them.

Water Is Too Hot

A tankless water heater can overheat just like a tank-style unit. This problem can be caused by a number of things.

• Your thermostat is set too high: If the thermostat is set too high, your water will become too hot. You can fix the problem by verifying that your thermostat isn’t set too high. If the problem persists after adjusting the thermostat to the right setting, call a nearby plumber to help you fix the problem.
• Faulty temperature sensor: The temperature sensors on tankless water heaters ensure the desired set temperature on the unit is reached accurately. These sensors can malfunction due to dirt build-up or age and lead to overheating.
• Obstructions: A tankless water heater can overheat due to obstructions in the filter, vents, air intakes, or plumbing fixtures.
• Cracked heat exchanger: A cracked heat exchanger can lead to combustible gas build-up in the water heater, which has the potential to trigger overheating.

Ignition Failure

Gas-powered tankless water heaters have a hot surface ignition system that ignites propane or natural gas. Just like other components of the heater, the hot surface ignition system can malfunction and lead to heating problems.

System Overload

Every tankless water heater has a flow rate capacity that you shouldn't exceed, otherwise, you could overload the system and it will shut down. For instance, running multiple showers and hot water faucets at once, your tankless unit may not produce enough hot water. If your tankless water heater becomes overloaded frequently, you should consider installing a new water heater with a higher capacity.

Mineral Buildup

Mineral or sediment buildup is not unique to tank-style heaters, but it also affects tankless water heaters. If you have hard water in your home, you need to keep an eye out for mineral buildup inside your water heater. Over time, minerals such as calcium and magnesium may slowly start to collect on the interior parts of your water heater and cause water discoloration and smelly water. It’s advisable to flush your water heater regularly to get rid of the mineral buildup. 

No Hot Water

Your tankless water heater may fail to produce hot water due to too many appliances running at once, a tripped breaker, your gas or electricity isn’t on, or ignition failure. If you experience this problem, call reliable water heater installers to inspect your unit and make repairs.

If you’re in need of water heater repair or tankless water heater installation, get in touch with Neighborhood Plumbing.