Tankless Water Heater Annual Maintenance

Why Do I Need Annual Maintenance On My Tankless Water Heater?

A Tankless Water Heater Primer

Tankless water heaters don’t use a storage tank. As water comes in from your home’s cold water line, the tankless water heater heats water directly.  So essentially, the heater is activated each time hot water is requested from a tap or appliance.

Tankless water heaters heat water using heating elements, commonly referred to as a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is either powered by gas (most common) or electricity.

Now that we’ve gotten that short primer, let’s take a look at why we recommend maintenance on your tankless water heater….

Why Should I Have Annual Maintenance on My Tankless Water Heater?

Tankless water heaters can last 20+ years-but only if they’re properly maintained.

Tankless water heaters are often “low-maintenance” devices compared to regular tank water heaters.

But, technically, hard water affects ALL water heaters, so maintenance of any water heater is key – even tankless water heaters.

As you will see in this US water hardness map, we live in an area that has very hard water. https://water.usgs.gov

Hard water means that our water has minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium in it.  It requires larger quantities of soap and synthetic detergents.  And it also contributes to scaling in water heaters.  In a tankless water heater, the minerals can build up on the heater exchanger, causing the passages where water flows to get plugged.  This shortens the water heater’s lifespan and reduces efficiency because more energy is needed to heat the water.

What Is Annual Maintenance?

Annual maintenance on your tankless water heater involves running a de-scaling fluid through the system to flush any buildup from the heating elements.  This flush should happen once a year and will help keep your investment running as efficiently as possible.

Ready to Schedule Your Annual Water Heater Maintenance?

Contact Covenant Plumbing to schedule a water heater maintenance appointment with one of our plumbing professionals!

Skip to content