If you’ve ever had a tank water heater system in your home, then you know it’s big, pretty noticeable, and in some cases can even be a bit noisy. In other words, it’s pretty hard not to pay attention to it. You also probably know that a tank water heater needs maintenance. What you might not know is that if you have a tankless system, it too needs a tune-up.
Scaling, or the buildup of mineral deposits, can have a negative impact on the unit, causing problems with water pressure, temperature, and even potential corrosion. They need occasional flushing to resolve this problem. So, yes, a tankless water heater needs a tune-up!
The maintenance that’s done to a conventional tank water heater is actually pretty similar to what needs to be done for a tankless system. Read on to learn more!
The Impact of Scaling on Tankless Water Heater
Scaling affects a tankless water heater in a way that could lead to its premature failure if you don’t schedule routine maintenance for the system. Hard water is what causes this–or a buildup of mineral deposits like we mentioned above. The minerals we’re talking about including calcium, magnesium, and sometimes even iron are the most common threats. These minerals are harmless to ingest, but they’re really bad for your plumbing.
When scaling occurs in your plumbing appliances or pipes, it can affect the heat exchanger component. You likely probably already understand that this is a very important part of your water heater–it’s literally the part that generates heat to provide you with hot water to begin with. These water heater components need to be clean in order for your water to be efficiently heated. Scaling can prevent the burners from adequately doing their job, which can eventually overwork a tankless water heater to the point of breakdown.
How Often Do You Need Water Heater Maintenance?
For some tankless water heater systems, routine annual maintenance is vital to keeping it running smoothly throughout its entire lifespan. For other tankless water heaters, maybe in areas that don’t suffer as much from hard water, maintenance can be completed every few years.
A professional plumber can help you by testing the level of hard water in your home. You may even be able to detect its presence on your own. If you notice a chalky white or yellow buildup around the faucets or drains, it’s likely that you have hard water, which puts your tankless water heater at risk!
Of course, we can’t say all this without letting you know that you can prevent hard water damage in the first place, for your water heater and for all your other important plumbing components. Ask us about having a whole-house water softener installed! These systems help neutralize and filter out the mineral deposits that lead to scaling and problems for your plumbing system.
Established in 1912, Max Sr & Paul Schoenwalder Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, A Corp. is your trusted resource for reliable Chatham water heaters. Contact us today!