If you have a tankless water heater at your home in Anoka, MN, then you know how beneficial this appliance is. Not only does it have a compact design and function incredibly efficiently, but you also have access to hot water on demand. As with any other appliance in your home, a tankless water heater requires periodic maintenance. Our team at Liberty Comfort Systems can assist you with tankless water heater maintenance and explain the benefits.
The Importance of Tankless Water Heater Maintenance
As time passes and you use your tankless water heater frequently, it’s possible for hard minerals like calcium and magnesium to accumulate on interior components. Sediment and other contaminants can also cause problems. If you ignore maintenance, you can experience a reduction in heating efficiency, higher energy consumption, and a shorter system life span because of these accumulations. Changes can happen subtly over time, making it difficult to spot what’s going on.
We recommend that you schedule a professional tankless water heater cleaning once per year. However, homes with very high levels of hard minerals can benefit from a tankless water heater cleaning every six months. You can reduce the risk of these issues by using a water softener. This unit will remove hard minerals, replacing them with potassium or sodium ions. Whole-home water filtration devices will remove sediment and other contaminants, protecting your water heater and the rest of your plumbing system. Make sure these devices are installed on the water supply line coming into your home. Water should be filtered or softened before arriving at your water heater.
The Maintenance Process
We start by turning off your water heater. If you have an electric unit, we will turn off the power at the breaker. For gas units, we will turn the gas valve to the “pilot” position to turn it off. It’s important that we ensure safety when performing routine maintenance.
Then, we will close off the cold-water inlet and hot water outlet using the valves that are in place. It’s not uncommon for a bit of water to come from the unit during this process. We take precautions so you don’t experience water damage in your home. It’s beneficial to know where these valves are located. If there is ever a leak, you can turn off the water to prevent structural damage.
We attach a submersible or inline transfer pump to clean the unit. Make sure the work area is clear so we have room to bring in equipment and access your heater. We will need to connect the pump hoses to your unit to circulate a cleaning solution through your heater. This will help remove scale and sediment easily. We will use a safe product to clean your tankless water heater. Avoiding the use of caustic chemicals will protect the integrity of your tankless water heater components. We advise allowing a professional to handle this maintenance. Using incorrect store-bought products can cause damage to the interior components of your tankless water heater. The pump will need to run for approximately 60 to 90 minutes. We will rinse the system thoroughly before you are able to use it again.
Once we’ve flushed your tankless water heater, we will disconnect the inline transfer pump and replace the service valve caps. Opening the water valves and restoring power to the unit allows us to purge air from the system. Once we test your water heater, you will be able to use it again.
Additional Tankless Water Heater Maintenance
In addition to cleaning your tankless water heater, there are some other important maintenance steps to consider. Most tankless models have an inlet filter that traps debris in the water. This filter requires replacement every six months to reduce the risk of clogs. If your unit has an air intake filter, this should also be replaced every six months. This filter is necessary for proper combustion and airflow through the system.
Each year as part of routine maintenance, we will check your unit’s test valve. This is a component that releases pressure from the system and is incredibly important for safety.
When Should You Call a Professional?
It’s beneficial to have a professional inspect and maintain your tankless hot water heater. While there is some maintenance you can do yourself, a trained eye knows exactly what to look for. Also, we perform plumbing service safely to protect the integrity of your water heater. These appointments give us the opportunity to assess your water heater. If there are minor repairs that are needed, we can perform them before an extensive problem or failure occurs. If your system is aging, we can let you know when it’s almost time to replace your water heater. This gives you time to plan from a budget perspective. Also, you’ll have some time to look at different options.
If you notice anything seems wrong with your tankless water heater, give us a call right away. There are some common signs to look out for that indicate a system malfunction. For example, a tankless water heater usually functions very quietly. If your system is making very loud banging, screeching, or hissing sounds, this warrants a professional inspection. Hard minerals may have accumulated on interior components. As the water heats up, loud noises can occur. Gas supply issues and water flow problems can also make your system sound louder than normal.
If you experience a lack of hot water or inconsistent temperatures, there may be a problem with your heating element. A clog in the heat exchanger can also cause this issue. If you’re experiencing a delay in hot water, this can simply be due to the distance between your water heater and your faucet or fixture.
If your system won’t produce hot water at all, you’re experiencing equipment failure. This may be because of something like a clogged filter, which is causing a safety feature to engage to protect your equipment.
Most tankless water heaters have a digital display that will flash an error code when something is wrong. You can refer to your owner’s manual for more information or give us a call.
The original installation of your tankless water heater may be the issue. There could be problems with connections or components. It’s important that your unit is sized properly for your home. If you’re experiencing flow rate issues, you may have a unit that is too small for your hot water needs. When it comes time to replace your water heater, we will ensure you choose the right model. We’ll consider the layout and square footage of your home. Your family’s hot water needs are important as well as the number of appliances that need hot water running at one time.
For more information on tankless hot water heater maintenance, you can count on our team here at Liberty Comfort Systems. In addition to routine maintenance, we can also perform new equipment installations and emergency repairs. If you’re located in the Anoka area and you would like assistance with tankless water heater maintenance, contact us at Liberty Comfort Systems today.
