Maintenance for a Tankless Water Heater
If you have a tankless water heater, you're going to want to perform periodic maintenance on it to keep it operating at its best. But how does that work, and how often should it be done? Today we're going to answer those questions and more.
How often is ‘periodic cleaning’?
The homeowner is required to drain a traditional water heater occasionally to stop mineral buildup from causing hot spots and lowering the efficiency of the heating element. However, tankless water heaters don't hold a large quantity of water, which means their maintenance and the problems aren't the same.
Our Phoenix Valley water has a high pH, and it's full of minerals and particulates that can affect water appliances. Our hard water causes some extreme problems for appliances, pipes, and the way it performs. For example, most devices require more soap to clean adequately. Many homeowners install a water softener or a Reverse Osmosis System to remove the minerals from the water, thus making soap lather more and work more efficiently. A water softener will also lower the maintenance for water-using appliances, including a tankless water heater.
Tankless water heater maintenance timeline
For homeowners that don't have a water softening system, the frequency between cleaning maintenance chores is going to be shorter. Even those with a water softener will still need to perform periodic cleaning. Remember, the intense temperatures of a water heater will bake the minerals onto the internal components of the heater even in a situation where they aren’t as plentiful. When manufacturers suggest yearly maintenance, they do so under worst-case scenario conditions, which includes conditions like ours.
For those tankless water heater owners who don't have a water softening process in place, periodic maintenance on the tankless system will have to be performed more frequently. Many manufacturers recommend yearly maintenance, which is in line with our water hardness. Cleaning doesn't have to be carried out as often in other areas where water isn't as hard as ours.
Descaling
The owner's manual will contain instructions on how to descale the tankless water heater. Most manufacturers' suggestions will probably include flushing the system with a few gallons of straight vinegar. A calcium lime and rust removal product is not generally recommended since CLR is not safe to use in potable drinking situations. As many people use hot water for cooking and drinking, vinegar is a better alternative. Descaling kits are also available for purchase on the internet.
If you need a licensed, bonded, experienced plumber for plumbing installation and service in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek, Ahwatukee or San Tan Valley call Norfleet Family Plumbing Heating and Air at 480-681-1764.
