In our last blog post, we talked about the benefits of tankless systems, also known as on-demand water heaters. If you already have one in your home, then you likely know of all these benefits! But do you know how to detect when it needs repair?
A faulty water heater is never something you want to encounter. After all, the longer your tankless water heater is in disrepair, the longer you have to go without hot water or the longer you have pay for high energy bills because something is amiss with the heat exchangers of the system. We don’t want this to be the case for you! So read on as we uncover some of the leading signs that something is amiss with your tankless water heater, then give us a call if you discover any of these indicators.
You’re Not Getting Consistent Hot Water
Because of its “on-demand” setup, a tankless water heater should be able to provide hot water whenever the right tap or appliance is turned on. It is possible for a tankless system to be overwhelmed. This means if you have too many taps and appliances demanding hot water from it at once, it may not be able to consistently heat it all up.
However, if this is a new problem and your use of your plumbing system hasn’t changed, it can be the sign of a heat exchanger problem. Perhaps there is sediment buildup from hard water, or some other issue.
You Notice Low Water Pressure
You might already know that leaks are the leading cause of a drop in water pressure within your plumbing system. But did you know that water heater problems can also lead to this symptom? Whether there is a buildup of sediment, like we mentioned above, or a leak in the water heater system itself, it can cause a drop in water pressure.
Your Energy Bills Have Spiked
Tankless water heaters are highly efficient, and don’t suffer from “standby heat loss” like traditional tank system water heaters do. However, if you notice your energy bills rising, it can be a sign that your tankless water heater is struggling to do its job and is leading to wasted energy.
You Notice Rust Tinged Water
Have you noticed rusty colored water coming from your hot water taps? First off, this might be from the pipes themselves, particularly if your plumbing system is decades old. However, if the problem is only coming from your hot water taps, there is a possibility that the problem originated from the tankless water heater.
You Hear Odd Noises From the System
Even though tankless systems have a lot of energy saving and cost saving benefits over the traditional tank system, there is one problem they can suffer from that is the same—sediment buildup. Hard water, which is water with a high level of minerals in it, creates deposits that can bang around inside the system. This might seem harmless, but unfortunately, it can lead to corrosion, and is best to have it checked out by a pro right away.
Contact Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. for tankless water heater repair in Tacoma, WA!