Tankless Water Heater Repair | San Antonio, TX

12/6/2021

Photo By OntheRunPhoto at istock

More and more homeowners today are replacing their traditional tank water heaters with tankless water heaters. Tankless water heaters don’t store water. Instead, the water heats up only when you turn on the hot water faucet. This is because tankless water heaters provide benefits that you cannot get from a traditional tank water heater. These include:

• Instant hot water: If you have a tank water heater, you often need to run the water for a bit before it gets hot. Tankless models provide hot water almost instantly. When the cold water is flushed from the pipes, you will have hot water.

 

• Never run out of hot water: Tankless water heaters don’t store hot water for use and only heats the water when necessary; therefore, you won’t need to worry about running out of hot water.

 

• Longer lifespan: The average lifespan of a traditional tank water heater is 8 to 12 years. The average lifespan of a tankless water heater is 20 years. Although tankless models cost more than conventional water heaters, they last twice as long.

 

• Saves space: Traditional water heaters are large because they need to store 50+ gallons of water. Tankless models don’t hold water; therefore, they are much smaller. In fact, tankless models can be hung on a closet wall, requiring no floor space at all.

 

• Lower monthly costs: Tank water heaters need to run all the time to keep the stored water hot. Tankless water heaters only kick on when you need hot water and are more energy-efficient than traditional water heaters. Installing a tankless water heater can save up to 22 percent and hundreds of dollars a year on your energy bills.

When you have a tankless water heater installed in your San Antonio, TX home, you want it to reach the 20-year lifespan. The best way to do this is to have the unit maintained, and you can detect early issues so you can schedule an appointment for tankless water heater repair.

If your tankless model is experiencing any of the following issues, it is best to call a plumber specializing in tankless water heaters and their repair right away before a minor problem escalates to something more serious that would require a more extensive repair that will cost more.

#1 You Have No Hot Water

A lack of hot water is the most obvious sign you need to call a plumber specializing in tankless water heater repair. The tankless model in your San Antonio, TX home is designed to produce hot water on demand; therefore, if the water is cold or lukewarm, you need to schedule an appointment for a repair.

Before you make the call, you should check a few things first. If your water heater uses gas, make sure your bills have been paid, and there isn’t a widespread outage. If you have an electric tankless model, check the circuit to ensure it didn’t trip and there is electricity going to the unit.

If everything checks out on your end, there could be an issue with the heating element or a problem with the fuel source, making it impossible for the unit to heat the water when you need it.

#2 The Water Heater Shuts Off On Its Own

If a traditional tank water heater shuts off when you are in the shower, you will still have enough hot water to finish taking a shower. If a tankless water heater shuts off on its own when you are in the middle of a shower, the water gets very cold, very fast, which is a terrible way to start the day. This is a frustrating issue; therefore, it is best to call a plumber specializing in tankless water heater repair.

This issue often indicates that the system’s filter is clogged. Tankless water heaters create hot exhaust. Without the necessary ventilation, the water heater will shut down on its own when you rely on it the most.

When you schedule an appointment for a repair, the plumber will inspect the water heater and check the filter to resolve the problem.

#3 Strange Sounds

It is normal for your tankless water heater to make a clicking sound when you turn on the water and the unit kicks on. Any other sounds would require a call to a plumber specializing in tankless water heater repair. A plumber can inspect the unit to figure out why it is making strange sounds.

• The water is being siphoned from the water heater: A vacuum can result in siphoning the water away from the unit. A professional in tankless water heater repair can install a check valve in the waterline to keep the fixtures from interfering with water flow to the tankless unit.

 

• Dirty flow sensor: The flow sensor controls the amount of gas sent to the unit. If the sensor is dirty, it can cause the water heater to make unusual sounds.

 

• Blocked or inadequate ventilation: Your tankless water heater needs ventilation to function properly. If the ventilation is insufficient or is blocked, the unit will make strange sounds.

 

• Defective pressure valve: A faulty pressure valve can cause your water heater to make strange sounds. The same is true if the pressure valve isn’t set correctly.

Multiple issues can cause your unit to make strange sounds; therefore, it is best to call a plumber specializing in water heater repair to determine the cause so the necessary repair can be made.

#4 Leaks

Tankless water heaters don’t store hot water; therefore, leaks are rare. However, if the unit does leak, you should schedule an appointment for tankless water heater repair. Small leaks can occur if there is a loose valve or fitting. Although you don’t have to worry about a leaking water heater flooding your home, allowing the problem to persist can cause water damage around the unit.

A tankless water heater repair professional can find the loose valve or fitting and tighten it up to keep the unit from leaking.

Why Choose bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio?

Not all plumbing companies work on tankless water heaters. If you need to schedule an appointment for tankless water heater repair, bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio can help.

We are a full-service plumbing company, and our plumbers are trained to install, maintain and repair tankless units.

We don’t want our customers to pay more than they should; therefore, we don’t charge a trip charge or overtime fees the way other plumbing companies do. In addition, we provide emergency service and are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you have a plumbing issue that can’t wait.

To schedule an appointment for tankless water heater repair or any other service we provide, give us a call today.