Let’s cut to the chase: you have around 15–20 years of service that you can expect from a tankless water heater. It’s longer than you can expect a tank water heater to last, so that’s a bonus, but it’s also completely dependent on how you take care of it.
We’ve seen our fair share of water heater repair in Fenton, MI over the years, and we can say without a doubt there are three things you need to keep in mind when you want to keep your tankless water heater in commission for upwards of two decades straight. Here’s what you need to know.
It Needs to Be Flushed From Time to Time
Yes, it’s a tankless water heater, but zero tank doesn’t equate to zero problems with mineral buildup. The buildup happens on the inside of the pipes that run through the water heater. While this doesn’t sound like much of a problem, it alters the time it takes for your tankless water heater to, well, heat water.
Mineral buildup creates an extra layer of hard material between the metal of the pipe and the water flowing inside of it. When the tankless water heater begins to heat the pipe, it then has to heat up all that calcium and magnesium buildup as well before it can heat the water, and the heat transfer isn’t as smooth, either.
This results in longer wait times to receive hot water. Depending on your tankless system, water can heat up as quickly as ten seconds after the unit turns on. But the more buildup on those pipes, the longer it’ll take to actually receive hot water out of your tap.
So how does this equate to your tankless water heater lasting for longer? Because if you run the water for longer simply because it hasn’t been flushed, you’re adding more wear and tear to the unit over time.
Maintenance Handles More Than Flushes
Your tankless water heater runs off of electricity, and as such, those electrical components can degrade over time. Annual maintenance isn’t just about flushing the pipes—it’s about inspecting the entire tankless water heater to make sure it’s running properly and efficiently.
Annual maintenance helps rejuvenate your tankless unit’s efficiency, reducing that wear and tear over time. Time plus usage still results in a decline in performance, but with maintenance, that decline is much slower. Your plumber will look at every working part of your tankless water heater once per year and make sure it stays in tip top shape.
Let’s Take Care of That Tankless Water Heater
If you’re not already on a maintenance plan for your tankless water heater, it’s time to get started. We can help: call us today or fill out our contact form, and we’ll get you set up with an appointment before long. It’s time to take care of your tankless water heater so it can last as long as possible.
Contact us today to schedule your water heater repair or replacement as soon as possible.