Reasons Your Tankless Water Heater Isn’t Working and Why You Need A Tankless Water Heater Repair | San Antonio, TX
A tankless water heater is a great way to save space in your home and get hot water on demand. But what happens when your tankless water heater stops working? Not only is hot water suddenly hard to come by, but you’re stuck wondering what went wrong.
There are a few common reasons your tankless water heater isn’t working and why you need a tankless water heater repair expert. From blocked pipes and clogged filters to faulty wiring and thermostat issues, a tankless water heater repair expert in San Antonio, TX can diagnose and fix the problem quickly. With the right expertise, you can have hot water again in no time and get back to enjoying the convenience of a tankless water heater.
Reasons Your Tankless Water Heater Isn’t Working
No Hot Water or Water Is Lukewarm
This is one of the most common issues you can expect with a tankless water heater. The following questions will help you zero in on the source of the issue.
How Many Appliances are Being Run at Once?
You are probably pushing your water heater past its limits if you run the dishwasher, wash a load of towels, and shower simultaneously. All tankless water heaters will have a maximum simultaneous use flow rate listed on the product page. Select the hot water function you need now, disable the others, and restart the machine. If this doesn’t fix the issue, you need to call a tankless water heater repair professional.
A lack of hot water is often caused by operating too many water sources simultaneously. One solution is to install multiple tankless water heaters to meet your home’s water usage needs. Appliances in your San Antonio, TX home that require a lot of hot water, like a washing machine or a dishwasher, can have their own dedicated tankless water heaters installed.
What About the Minimum Flow Rate?
The minimum flow rate is the quantity of water (in gallons) that must pass through the tankless unit per minute to heat the water. To prevent damage to the unit, your water heater will shut down if the requested flow rate is below the minimum. Try running more water through the tap to see if it warms up. If it doesn’t, it’s best to call a tankless water heater repair expert.
Are There Any Blockages?
Make sure there isn’t anything blocking your vents or other intake channels. Fortunately, most tankless water heaters feature alert devices that sound off if any exhaust vent is clogged. See to it that nothing is clogged, dusty, or otherwise unusable inside and out. Dirty burners can also lead to a blockage. You must ensure that they are spotless!
Is There a Problem with the Power Source?
If you are using electricity, you should examine the main electrical panel. The breaker may have tripped for whatever reason, and you’ll need to reset it before you can use your tankless water heater again. If you’re using a gas-powered water heater, ensure the gas valve is fully open, the bill is paid, or the propane tank is full. If none of these works, you need to call a tankless water heater repair expert.
What is the Weather Like Outside?
Frozen water pipes are a common wintertime problem that can leave you without hot water. Call a tankless water heater expert to thaw your water pipes if this is the case.
Sediment Buildup
A sediment buildup in the water heater and pipes could cause them to become wholly or partially clogged. Rust and iron silt can spread throughout a system that uses iron pipes and parts. Meanwhile, the scale can form in plumbing systems due to minerals like magnesium and calcium in hard water.
These minerals and sediments tend to settle and become lodged, which can cause a slow but steady buildup that eventually blocks the water’s path. Because of this, the water’s pressure and temperature may change, putting users at risk.
If you have buildup issues, you should call a tankless water heater repair professional to flush your water heater. This should be part of your annual maintenance routine to prevent more serious problems caused by mineral or sediment buildup.
Cold Water Sandwich
You’re probably familiar with the “cold water sandwich” if your household often takes back-to-back baths. Let’s say someone in your household just got out of the shower, and it’s your turn to do the same. When you turn on the shower, the water is warm at first, but after a few seconds, it turns ice cold and only gradually warms up again.
The following is what transpired: There was still hot water in the shower’s pipes after the first user finished using them. The warm water you felt at the start of the second shower was the trapped water. Indeed, tankless water heaters live up to the moniker “instantaneous water heaters.” If you have a problem with your shower being too cold, the problem likely lies in the pipes between your water heater and your fixture. This difference becomes more pronounced the further your water must travel from the water heater to its final destination. There’s no way to avoid this, but at least you know to hold off on taking a shower until after a while to allow the cold water to pass.
Smelly or Discolored Water
The water in your home needs to be crystal clear at all times. If the water smells weird or is discolored, there might be something growing in the unit. Gross as it may sound, this is quite common and not harmful in the slightest with proper care.
Over time, our units might accumulate mineral deposits from the water. When the buildup is severe, the water becomes discolored and unpleasant. This can be fixed by calling a tankless water heater repair company to flush your unit with a descaling solution.
Maintaining a regular cleaning schedule for your tankless water heater is highly recommended. Water softeners help keep your appliance running smoothly if you have hard water issues. Most tankless water heater warranties are null and void unless the water is softened or otherwise treated.
Having a Problem with Your Tankless Water Heater?
Although tankless water heaters are often low-maintenance and very efficient, issues can still arise. Contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio if your tankless water heater is malfunctioning and you want a tankless water heater repair expert to take a look at it. We have years of experience working with water tanks and can get your water heater up and running again.
Call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio at 210-876-1629 or contact us online if you need tankless water heater repair in San Antonio, TX.
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