The tankless water heater is generally considered to be a more efficient way of heating your water. There is no body of water stored that needs to be heated and kept hot; the boiler simply fires up every time you turn the tap on and delivers hot water to you.
In general this will save you money. But, there are still several issues which can occur if you fail to maintain your hot water system properly. It’s important to understand what these problems are and to know the number for a good engineer; such as NSW Hot Water; they’ll be able to help you sort any issue.
Mineral Buildup
If you’re in a hard water area then you may develop an issue with mineral buildup.
You can tell if your water is hard by trying to get lather with soap. If there is very little then you’re dealing with hard water. A lot equates to soft water.
The harder the water the higher the mineral content. These minerals collect inside your tankless water heater. They can start to block pipes and coat the heating element; preventing it from working properly.
You must flush your water heater regularly to avoid this issue.
Overloading The System
Even if you have a high capacity water heater it is possible to overload it if you have several showers running and perhaps a sink as well.
You’ll notice the issue as the water won’t be as hot as it should be.
You can reduce your usage, upgrade your tankless water heater or simply take showers at separate times.
Cold Water Blast
This often happens when you jump in the shower straight after someone else. You’ll start with hot water and then it’ll go cold before slowly getting warm again.
This is because you’ve had the hot water left in the pipes; followed by cold water from the heater as it fires back up and starts to warm the water again.
Just wait until the cold water has passed before you get into the shower!
Air or Exhaust Issue
You’ll probably get a warning code and your water heater may not work until this issue is resolved. It means that the heater is not getting enough air or is unable to vent the burnt gases effectively. You’ll need to check all the pipes in order to clear any obstructions.
Bird’s nests, wasps and even mice are the most common causes. Once you’ve removed them the water heater should function normally again.
Ignition Issues
This could be an issue with the fuel supply; either you don’t have any or the valves are closed.
Check these first; if this does not help there is a good chance your ignition pack has failed and you’ll need the services of a qualified water heater technician.
Pilot Light But No Flame
This issue leaves you with no hot water. The pilot gas indicates there is plenty of gas coming into the water heater. But, it is possible the flow is low and not sufficient to light the main burners.
Check your gas / oil supply first. IF this is fine then you may have regulator failure or an issue with you combustion. You’ll need professional help!
