A Look At The 5 Most Common Tankless Water Heater Problems | Irving, TX
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Tankless water heaters are becoming extremely popular in residences because they’re easy to use and can supply an endless amount of hot water. Gone are the days where you can only take a hot shower for a certain amount of time or when the shower water will become cold if more than one person is using showers in the home.
Although tankless water heaters are basically godsend, they will also require repairs every so often. They do break down. If your tankless water heater starts acting up, you should definitely call a plumbing company to fix the problem. Tankless water heaters are pretty new on the market, and you probably don’t have the expertise to do any DIY tankless water heater repair jobs.
In this article, we will look at some of the most common tankless water heater repairs that are needed.
#1. Mineral Buildup
One of the most common reasons why homeowners need to call a plumbing company for tankless water heater repairs is because it is literally filled up within the device. This happens more often and areas with hard water compared to areas with the soft water.
The two most damaging minerals are calcium and magnesium. These minerals can easily impair the function of the water heater. Due to this reason, most plumbing companies recommend flushing your tankless water heaters every six months or so. You can avoid such regular flushes if you install a water softener to get rid of the minerals in the water.
#2. Blocked Air Supply or Exhaust
One of the main reasons why you need to call a plumbing company for tankless water heater repair services is because you’ll notice an error code on the device. The most common error code that people get is a blocked air supply or exhaust. This usually means that the device is having problems with either combustion or venting.
To solve this problem, the plumber will first need to inspect all of the vent pipes to make sure that there are no leaks or clogs. Depending on the cause, the tankless water heater repairs needed can be simple and easy to do or may require new parts.
#3. System Overload
Although tankless water heaters are able to provide an endless source of hot water, they still are limited by a certain capacity. It’s possible to overload the device if you turn on too many hot water applications at the same time. An example would be if your household is using multiple showers at the same time while washing the clothes in hot water.
The solution to this is to simply limit the amount of hot water applications that are running at the same time. You can also consider resetting your unit or upgrading to a new tankless water heater that has a higher capacity. Another option is to install a second unit. Although this may seem like a costly solution, it’s definitely worth it. You’ll definitely see a huge difference.
The bottom line is that you can’t increase the heating capacity via a simple tankless water heater repair. The defined capacity is what it is.
#4. Ignition Failure
Another common reason why many homeowners need to call for tankless water heater repair services is if there is an ignition failure. There are many different reasons why the tankless water heater might fail to ignite. The tankless water heater repair services that are needed will depend on the cause of the issue.
For example, if there’s something wrong with the gas supply, the plumber might take a look at the propane tank. On the other hand, there could also be a problem with the gas or water valve.
This is perhaps one of the more difficult problems to diagnose since there are many different reasons that could cause this problem to emerge in the first place. A licensed plumber will need to inspect the entire plumbing system in order to diagnose the problem. Depending on whether they figure out what the problem is quickly or not, you should free up your schedule for the day.
#5. The Cold Sandwich
Last but not least, a cold sandwich isn’t something that you should call a plumber for. It’s also not something that you can actually fix. The problem emerges from how the device works.
A cold sandwich happens when people take back-to-back showers or baths. For example, let’s say that your partner just finished taking a shower. You decide to jump in within minutes of them finishing. However, you notice that although the water feels warm at first, it turns cold suddenly. This phenomenon is known as the cold sandwich.
Although this may be unpleasant, it’s not something that you need to call a professional to fix. What happened is that you used up the last of the heated water and was left with a gap of unheated water. The solution is to wait a little longer before jumping into the shower.
Call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of North Dallas for Water Heater Repair in Irving, TX
No matter how you look at it, tankless water heaters are godsend and a better alternative to traditional water heaters. First off, you never have to worry about not having enough hot water for a bath or a shower. Second, tankless water heaters typically require fewer repairs and maintenance than traditional alternatives.
With that said, they’re not unbreakable. If you ever need tankless water heater repair services in Irving, TX, contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of North Dallas by calling 469-214-2582 or by contacting us online. You can even schedule an appointment online if you don’t have any questions.
bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of North Dallas is a leader in this field and has completed many different types of tankless water heater repair services. Our licensed and insured plumbers will be able to easily tackle any repair service with ease. They’ll be able to provide you with several solutions to choose from.
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