With the tankless water heater, you may have to encounter problems with it from time to time. Tankless water heaters are long-lasting, durable and very much efficient. They also take up a little more space than traditional water heaters. Also, they are quite friendly to the environment. The tankless water heater problems often come with expensive costs on repairs and can, thus, experience quite a lot of problems.
One of the major complaints regarding tankless water heater problems is that they aren’t able to offer hot water as quickly as expected. In case your water heater does not comprise a recirculation pump or a buffer tank, it would take a minute or two to heat up the water prior to coming out from the tap. The length of the pipe from the water heater to that of the fixture plays a really vital role in delivering the hot water. Check out besthomewatertreatmentsystems.com to know more about such systems!
Common tankless water heater problems
Although the list of problems faced by tankless water heaters is big, here are a few mentioned right below:
Water is too hot
It may happen if the temperature setting is too high or in case there is any obstruction in the pipe that is leading to the flow of hot water, causing the heat to build up. Also, it may result in the building up of sediment in the tank, which would eventually require descaling and flushing. It can also be a result of the clogs in the pipes, which may reduce the flow of water, which may cause a small amount of water to heat up. Reposition or replace the temperature sensor in case it is broken. Replace it easily if the temperature sensor is broken.
Low water pressure
Take note if the utility has adequate water pressure. Also, ensure that the fixtures are free from all kinds of obstructions.
Hot water not escaping the pipe
This is one of the major water heating problems. It happens mostly because of a water supply issue. If the water ejects from the pipes, check your gas, the electric supply, and the shut-off valve. Also, you must check if there is any obstruction in your pipe. If you have a burner flame rod generating a spark, you may either clean it or return it if it is not doing it appropriately. You can also choose the circuit breaker to fix it. Check the control panel of your unit for an error code.
Unit is too noisy
The noise might be coming up if the burner is popping up a yellow flame instead of a blue one. Also, check if the fan is clean enough and if there is no irregular gas combustion due to any leakage. You should also verify if the burner flames are stable.
Burner isn’t igniting
This could occur if the gas, water or electricity is turned off. Check the circuit breaker if you have got an electric water heater. Keep an eye on the vent system that is installed correctly and ensure that you are using the correct gas type at the right pressure.
Fluctuation of water temperature
Check if the gas is in its right size, and ensure that the flow sensor is not malfunctioning. Also, you should cross-check the length of your venting pipe and remove the dirt from the water filter.
Water is not too hot
The water filter could be clogged, or the temperature set would be too low. It might be an issue with the gas pressure, supply, or a plumbing crossover. You can even check the venting system and see if there is an ample amount of fresh air to support combustion. Also, descale the sediments built up in the heat exchanger.
- Testing for a plumbing crossover
First, you should shut off the inlet valve for the cold water and then open up all the hot water faucets in your home. If you still witness water flow after 10 minutes, there could be a plumbing crossover.
You can either try to fix these issues yourself, or you can seek help from a professional to sort things out!
