If you are considering the purchase of a whole house tankless water heater it is good to know that they have a track record of providing service for 2 to 3 times longer than traditional models that use a tank to store and reheat hot water. Twenty years longevity is not unusual with tankless water heaters when they are properly maintained.
To begin with, make sure that the tankless water heater is installed according to manufacturers’ specifications. They are usually very easy to follow and offer installation that is easier than traditional hot water heaters. Once properly installed and functioning as designed, regular maintenance will insure that they deliver the amount of continual hot water they are rated for, and that they will perform well for the longest period of time.
Tankless Water Heater Maintenance Video
Great video on how to clean and maintain your Tankless Water Heater
Proper maintenance of most tankless water heaters involves flushing the system regularly to remove hard water deposits such as calcium from the unit. This is accomplished by disconnecting the cold water feed to the unit and draining the water within. Then, reconnect the outflow, and pour into the intake a mixture of 3 parts white vinegar to one part water.
Straight white vinegar will work, too, and so will products designed specifically to remove calcium, rust, or lime deposits. Leave the flushing agent in the unit overnight, if possible, or 2-3 hours minimum. It will not harm the pipes. Then, reconnect the cold water intake and flush the cleaning agent out of the tankless water heater by turning on two or three hot water faucets throughout the house.
Run the water for 3 to 4 minutes, and your system is flushed and ready to provide continuous hot water heater to all the places it is needed.
