Tankless Water Heater Services in Lexington

There are a few things that can cause a tank-style water heater to run out of hot water quickly. The three most common culprits are sediment buildup, a faulty lower heating element, and a broken dip tube. Here’s a little more information on each:

Sediment buildup: Water has small amounts of dissolved minerals (mostly magnesium and calcium). As your water gets heated in the tank, some of the dissolved minerals are deposited at the bottom of the tank, creating a layer of sediment. When that sediment layer grows, it means less water will fit in your tank — for example, a 40-gallon tank with 15 gallons of sediment only leaves room for 25 gallons of hot water. It’s important that you drain your water heater at least once every year to drain any sediment within your water tank.

Faulty lower heating element: While sediment buildup on the bottom of your tank is often the culprit, you could have a voltage problem. High voltage can damage your heating element and render it ineffective or inefficient. Have your electrician inspect the voltage supply for your water heater to rule out this possibility.

Broken dip tube: Cold water enters your water heater through the dip tube, where it’s then forced to the bottom of the tank to be heated. When your dip tube is broken, the cold water remains at the top of your tank and is returned through the hot water outlet.

A huge benefit of tankless water heaters is their ability to provide an endless supply of hot water, as the water is heated on demand. If your tankless water heater is fluctuating between hot and cold water, it could be an issue with your gas line, improperly lengthened venting pipes, a damaged flow sensor, or a dirty water filter. Our plumbing professionals will be able to determine the cause and provide prompt, affordable solutions on the spot.

While tankless water heaters cost more upfront, they have proven to save money in the long run due to their efficiency in heating water on demand. The U.S. Department of Energy estimated that tankless heaters save an average of $108 per year over tank-style water heaters. That savings, when paired with other factors such as endless hot water supply, longer service life, compact size, lower month-to-month costs, and longer warranties, means they pack a big punch when it comes to cost-effective solutions for heating water in your home.

While tankless water heaters are not immune to the effects of hard water, the effects do seem to be minimal and less immediate. As water moves through the heat exchanger of your tankless water heater, the minerals will drop out of suspension, and most will be cleared out with the water flushing through. Thus, the buildup of scale takes a much longer time to affect your system. Some manufacturers even offer built-in scale detection, which will alert you when the unit needs to be flushed. Likewise, tankless water heaters still have the capabilities of treating your water with a water softener, which will further increase the life span of your unit.

When it comes to selecting the right size water heater for your home, this is best left to the professionals. The experienced team at Meetze Plumbing can determine the optimal size for your tankless water heater, factoring in your hot water usage, the size of your home, and your budget.

If you have questions regarding sizing or models of tankless water heaters, don’t hesitate to reach out to our knowledgeable team today by calling (803) 732-3747 or scheduling your consultation online!

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends setting your water heater to no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius) to prevent scalding. A water heater that is set too high could also severely affect your energy bill because it typically accounts for about 18% of your home’s energy bill.

Another piece of good news regarding tankless water heaters is that they require minimal maintenance when compared to their tank-style counterparts. While your tankless water heater should still be serviced as part of a regular preventive regimen, including an inspection of the electric or gas components, you can get by with scheduling routine maintenance only once per year.