Tankless water heaters are increasing in popularity due to the endless amount of hot water they provide. However, without proper maintenance, that limitless supply will disappear quickly. To keep your tankless water heater in top shape, avoid these common maintenance mistakes.
Ignoring the Hard Water Threat
Mineral buildup can quickly destroy a modern heating system. Even though there is no tank where sediment can collect, it will stick to the sides of the narrow pipes that hot water must travel through to get to your fixtures. If there is significant accumulation, your water heater must work much harder to supply you with hot water. As a result, your energy bills will rise, and your system will eventually fail under the strain. To keep minerals from accumulating inside the system, run a vinegar solution through it at least once each year.
The Trap of Improper Venting
Tankless units are well-known for their high efficiency because they don’t waste energy heating a tank of water on standby. However, they produce exhaust that must go somewhere safe. These machines need to breathe properly so that they don’t overheat and catch fire. If the intake air is restricted or the exhaust can’t escape, the sensors will trigger an automatic shutdown to keep a dangerous situation from occurring. Professional installation is critical. This is because the vent materials must be able to handle the specific heat and acidity produced by these modern appliances.
Setting the Temperature Way Too High
It’s tempting to crank the thermostat on your unit up to the maximum setting to give yourself that luxury spa feeling. However, setting the temperature above 120 degrees is a recipe for trouble. High heat speeds up the rate of corrosion inside the unit. It also poses a major scalding risk. When the water is too hot, the system works much harder than necessary. This puts an immense amount of stress on the internal components. Keeping the dial at a reasonable level protects your skin and your wallet at the same time.
If more than a year has passed since you scheduled maintenance, make the call and get an appointment on the calendar. You may reason that you can skip annual service calls to save some money. However, this rarely works out well. Problems may be lurking beneath the surface that you don’t know about until something goes wrong. At that point, repair costs are astronomical, as they can run hundreds or even thousands of dollars. For tankless water heater maintenance at your Peachtree City, GA home, contact Trinity Air Heating & Air Conditioning to enjoy peace of mind and hot water.