A water heater replacement is a significant investment. Once you’ve spent the money to repair or replace your water heater, you want to do everything you can to make sure you get plenty of bang for your buck.
Tankless water heaters can last two to three times longer than traditional water heaters. Luckily, you can take some simple steps to make sure that your hot water heater lasts for as long as possible.
And, when the time does come for a water heater repair or a new tankless water heater install, you can trust the experts at Cooper Plumbing to get the job done right.
5 Tips To Make Your Tankless Water Heater Install Last Longer
Tip 1: Flush Your Hot Water System Annually
Most plumbers recommend that you flush any hot water system at least once a year, including tankless water heaters.
Running a descaling solution through your system will help remove hard water buildup, increase efficiency, and reduce the likelihood that you’ll need a pricey water heater repair.
Tip 2: Invest In Regular Water Heater Maintenance Checks
Doctors recommend regular check-ups to ensure that your body’s systems run correctly and catch problems before they escalate.
It’s no different for your hot water system. Investing in regular maintenance from experts like Cooper Plumbing can help you spot problems before they get expensive.
Some common signs of water heater issues to look out for in between maintenance checks are:
- Inconsistent or no hot water
- Unusual smell or taste
- Discolored water
- Low water pressure
- Warning lights or messages from your tankless system
Contact Cooper Plumbing and schedule a tankless water heater repair immediately if you notice any of the above signs of water heater damage.
Tip 3: Inspect The Water Lines and Repair Them As Necessary
It’s easy to neglect your pipes. However, if you ignore them for long enough, you’ll quickly find yourself searching for a water line repair in Houston.
While Cooper Plumbing is happy to help with any Houstonian’s water line repairs, we’re also here to help ensure your water lines can better weather daily wear and tear.
Your water lines need regular checks and maintenance, like your water heater system. Most professionals recommend a basic inspection once every one to two years.
For example, plumbers can inspect your water lines using a camera to spot problem areas in your pipes before they turn into burst water mains, discoloration, and stubborn mold.
If you or your plumber spot something suspicious, it’s best to address the problem as soon as possible. Some of the most common signs of water line damage include:
- Standing pools of water
- A drop in water pressure
- Discolored water
- Noisy fixtures
- Unexpectedly high water bills
- Pest and insect infestations
If you notice any of these problems, call the experts at Cooper Plumbing as soon as possible
Tip 4: Install A Water Softener
It’s no secret: Houston has hard water. Almost every plumber in the city knows that Houston has a lot of minerals such as magnesium and calcium dissolved into the municipal water.
While these minerals aren’t dangerous for humans and animals, they are tough on your hot water heater. Many plumbers will tell you that hard water is the number one enemy of an on-demand, tankless water heating system.
Hard water increases the likelihood of water heater repair because the dissolved minerals tend to build up inside your system.
Even if you don’t end up needing an outright repair, over time, hard water buildup will cause your system to run less efficiently, which costs you time and money.
Calcium buildup, known as limescale, builds up between your heat exchanger and the water itself. That creates a layer of insulation, making it more difficult to heat the water. Lower efficiency translates to less hot water and a higher electricity bill.
With enough limescale buildup, your tankless water heater will overheat and shut down. When that happens, you’ll find yourself looking at an alarming error code and a potentially expensive repair.
Fortunately, there’s an easy investment you can make to combat hard water and extend the life of your water heater: a water softener.
If your primary concern is protecting your water heater, one option is installing a Scale Inhibitor System. An SIS filters the minerals out of hard water before entering your water heating system, reducing harmful buildup.
If you want to protect all of your appliances and water lines from hard water buildup, a better option is to install a water softener for your whole home.
Whole-house water softeners come in two main types: salt-based and salt-free.
Salt-based systems tend to be the more cost-effective option. They replace the minerals in hard water with sodium ions so that water enters your home soft and mineral-free.
Salt-free water softeners are a more recent development. Sometimes, they’re called water conditioners or scale inhibitors.
These systems don’t remove the minerals from the water. Instead, they stabilize the chemical structure of the minerals so that they don’t form limescale inside of your appliances and water lines.
Both types of water softeners are viable options. Which one you choose depends on your needs and priorities. If you’re interested in installing a water softener in your home, you can speak with one of the experts at Cooper Plumbing to review your options and decide what’s right for you.
Tip 5: Trust Houston’s Best Plumbing Team
Cooper Plumbing has your back when you need a hot water heater repair in Houston. We’re the best plumbing team in Houston, and we’re ready to help with all your tankless water heater repair, installation, and maintenance needs.
It’s essential to have experts you trust working on your hot water system. Cooper Plumbing will get the job done right. If you need a tankless water heater repair in Houston, give us a call today at 832-441-9683 or visit our website today to request a service.
