Tankless Water Heater Goes Hot Then Cold Then Hot Again

Is Your Tankless Water Heater Causing Issues?

There are arguments for investing in a tankless water heater including the fact that information technology generates hot water only when yous need it—and for as long every bit you need information technology—saving 27 to l pct of fuel costs over tank-blazon heaters. (A typical gas-fired tank wastes 40 to 50 percent of the fuel it burns.) Tankless h2o heaters have upward much less infinite than storage water heaters as they estrus the water directly. When yous turn on the hot h2o, the cold water travels through a pipe and into the tankless water heater unit where it is heated by a gas burner or an electric element. This allows you a constant supply of hot water.

In this article, we're going to talk over a few common issues that homeowners experience with their tankless water heaters. We have produced a short video highlighting some of these issues and ways to fix them below.

Tankless water heaters are free energy-efficient, have low maintenance costs, and are reasonably durable. Merely just like any apparatus, they're not completely  immune to issues. From time to time, they may present with minor issues, such every bit having no hot water, or not firing. Tankless water heaters, as well known as demand-type or instantaneous water heaters, provide hot h2o simply as it is needed. They don't produce the standby energy losses associated with storage h2o heaters, which can save you money.

Tankless water heaters rut water directly without the use of a storage tank. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit of measurement. Either a gas burner or an electrical chemical element heats the water. As a event, tankless water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don't need to look for a storage tank to fill upwards with enough hot h2o. However, a tankless water heater'due south output limits the flow charge per unit.

If your tankless h2o heater isn't performing upward to par here's what you should check.

No hot water coming from taps, or water is lukewarm

What's the outcome when you have no hot h2o in house but have common cold water? This is the virtually common trouble yous can look with a tankless water heater. To get to the root of the trouble, ask yourself the following questions.

How many appliances am I running at once?

If you're running the dishwasher, doing a load of towels, and showering at the same time, chances are yous're just running your water heater to its limits. Every tankless h2o heater has a flow rate capacity that should requite yous a good idea of how much hot water tin exist used simultaneously. Choose which hot water activeness you need right at present, turn off the others, and restart your unit of measurement. Many times, this is just due to likewise many faucets being run at once, like your shower and the kitchen sink. For example, taking a shower and running the dishwasher at the same time can stretch a tankless h2o heater to its limit. To overcome this problem, you tin can install two or more than tankless h2o heaters, connected in parallel for simultaneous demands of hot water. You lot can also install carve up tankless h2o heaters for appliances — such every bit a apparel washer or dishwater — that use a lot of hot water in your home.

Am I reaching my minimum menses rate?

The minimum flow rate is the amount of water (in gallons) the tankless unit needs flowing through every minute to produce hot water. If y'all're asking for less than the minimum menses rate, the unit of measurement is probably shutting off equally a safety measure. Increase the flow out of your faucet and wait to run into if the h2o heats upwardly. Tankless h2o heaters must be able to sense water catamenia in club to initiate operation. Most models will operate with menstruation rates every bit low as 0.5 gallons per infinitesimal. This is the lowest minimum flow rate in the industry and is an important benefit.

Typically, tankless water heaters provide hot water at a rate of two–five gallons (7.six–fifteen.2 liters) per infinitesimal. Gas-fired tankless water heaters produce higher flow rates than electrical ones. Sometimes, yet, even the largest, gas-fired model cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in big households.

Is something plugged up?

Check your vents and air intake channels for blockages. Lucky for you lot, almost tankless water heaters have notification systems that tell you if you lot have a blocked frazzle vent somewhere. Make sure everything—inside and outside—is gratuitous of blockages, dust bunnies, or other debris. Dirty burners are likewise a source of blockage. Make sure they're make clean!

What about my power source?

If you're running on electricity, cheque your main electrical console. Something may have acquired the breaker to trip, requiring a reset before your tankless water heater will work once again. If you lot're burning gas, make sure you paid your nib, there'due south propane in your tank, or the gas valve is fully in the ON position.

Is information technology cold outside?

In the winter, frozen water pipes can prevent hot water from reaching you lot and your appliances. Safely and naturally thaw your pipes before trying over again for some hot h2o.

H2o temperature in your firm is too hot

Then what if you lot're experiencing the opposite problem? Hither are the things to fix if your water is getting also hot:

• Stop overloading the system by using too many taps at once.
• Reset your h2o heater thermostat to around 120 F.
• Reposition your temperature sensor to get a more accurate reading.
• Clean your tankless h2o heater's inlet filter. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for your model. Of import: Whichever type of tankless water heater you own, turn off the unit and expect until it cools downwards earlier attempting any DIY work on the system.
• Again, articulate any blockages. Reduced water flow tin cause any heated water to become too hot.

A problem specific to electrically powered water heaters is a faulty heater element. Electrical water heaters may be equipped with either i or two heating elements. If a heating element begins to basis out, it volition stay on all the fourth dimension and overheat drastically. Not surprisingly, the outcome will exist painfully hot h2o – and that'southward merely for starters. With time, the heater element will burn down itself out completely. So yous'll have no hot h2o at all until the chemical element is replaced.

Mineral or Sediment Buildup in Water Heater

The water heater and the pipes could be susceptible to becoming blocked partially or fully due to a buildup of mineral or sediment. Systems with iron pipes and components can rust and lead to iron sediment building upward throughout. Meanwhile, homes with hard h2o could encounter minerals like calcium and magnesium resulting in a scale buildup.

Over time, these minerals and sediment tin can become stuck in place, leading to a gradually growing buildup that narrows the passage that the water moves through. This can impact the force per unit area and temperature of the water and brand it potentially unsafe.

If you are experiencing problems relative to buildup, you'll need to call a professional person to flush your system. This should be a role of your regular annual maintenance so as to avoid more damaging issues caused by mineral or sediment buildup.

Water runs hot, then common cold, then hot again. (Hot or Cold Water Sandwich)

Information technology's the dreaded cold water sandwich, which about oft occurs in the shower.  Hither's what'due south probably happening: Someone in your home could take showered merely before you. The hot water y'all're feeling in the beginning is the leftovers from the previous person. Then, the water gets cold over again while the tankless water heater is re-heating the water for your shower. So, in one case the heater does its task, you get your hot water once more.

If this happens a lot or really gets on your fretfulness, enquire your Northwest Arkansas plumber if a mini tank water heater could help. A pocket-size tank will give hot water while the tankless unit of measurement heats up, preventing this cold water sandwich in the future.

A cold water sandwich result refers to the phenomenon where the water from a heater is warm for a few minutes, then unloads a burst of common cold water, and and so the water quickly returns to being warm once more. This is a mutual problem with tankless water heaters. There is some h2o which remains stored in warm condition at the oral cavity of the faucet or other outlets, which means when someone runs the tap or the shower, he will receive some hot h2o instantly. Even so, a tankless heater takes some time to oestrus up the exchanger and during that fourth dimension, some cold water may become through the exchanger and accomplish the user. The effect at mitt is more than mutual to electric water heaters than it is with gas powered heaters. The reason for this is that gas reaches the operating temperature nearly immediately, whereas electric heaters may take a infinitesimal or two to reach the required temperature for heating.

Water smells bad or looks discolored (Smells Similar Rotten Eggs)

Your water should e'er exist clean and clear. If it'due south discolored or smells funky, you might have something similar mold, fungus, or leaner growing within your unit of measurement. The virtually mutual bad smell you lot can option out is that of "sulfur" or rotten eggs.

This aroma is typically acquired bysulfate bacteria that can develop within the tank. This issue unremarkably happens when warm water is left too long in the tank and leaner builds upwardly in the water. The soft water breaks down the magnesium and creates sulfate gas within the water heater

The minerals in our water tend to build up in our units over time. When enough builds up, you get cloudy, yellow, brown, nasty water. If yous detect rusty or rust colored water coming from your faucets, then you may accept a build upwards of rust or damaged piped within your unit. Flushing your tankless water heater with a pre-fabricated descaling solution or regular distilled white vinegar should solve your problem. Information technology'south adept to be in the addiction of cleaning your tankless water heater at least every six months. If you lot know you have hard water bug, ask u.s. virtually water softeners to aid keep your unit of measurement in top status.

If your rotten egg or bad scent is acquired by stagnant h2o inside the tank, then you will probably need to have the h2o heater replaced. On some DIY websites they may recommend draining and flushing the tank. Nevertheless, even if you can flush the leaner out the odour volition likely stay inside the tank and you'll go along to experience the same problem

My Gas Tankless Water Heater Won't Ignite

Proper gas pressure level coming to your tankless heater has to be provided. Bank check the gas valve and ensure that information technology is open, and that yous have paid your gas bill. Check all sensors, wiring fuses, and electrical components to ensure they have non burned out. Ensure there is no condensation or debris on the burners that may crusade them to not ignite. If the flow is too low, the burner volition not ignite. Depression pressure is one of the most frequent tankless water heater problems and is easy to set up.

Hither are the ignition failure codes found on some tankless brands:

Takagi Tankless Water Heater – Error Lawmaking 111, 11 or iii

Electric Tankless Water Heater Rinnai – Mistake Lawmaking eleven

Navien Tankless H2o Heater – Fault Code E003

Noritz Tankless H2o Heater – Error Code xi

The ignition failure on tankless water heaters can occur to any brand and model, no thing how advanced or not information technology is. The failure tin can be caused by a trouble inside the water heater or due to an external crusade.

• Make sure that gas and h2o are open and electricity is ON (120 VAC supply).
• Ostend that the correct gas type (natural gas or LP) is used.
• Make certain the pressure is per specs.
• Verify that all air was purged from the gas line and after the installation.
• Brand sure plumbing is installed correctly, per codes and manufacturer'south instructions.
• See if the water pressure is per specs.
• Ensure that h2o is non too difficult (over 7 grains) as it can cause sediment build-up.
• If your location is at a higher altitude, bank check out if the h2o heater is fix correctly or equally designed.
• And finally, is there an error code?

H2o is leaking from Tankless Water Heater

Water leaks on your h2o heater are typically caused past leaking valves and plumbing connections. If you notice a leak, endeavor to trace it to the origin within the plumbing pipes. If it is not immediately noticeable, then it's advised that you should shut off water to your water heater, and call a local plumber in your surface area to come inspect the situation.

My Navien Tankless Water Heater Isn't Working

Here at Paschal, we specialize in installing and maintaining Navien brand tankless h2o heaters. NavienNPE-2 Serial and NPN Series high efficiency tankless water heaters provide endless domestic hot water, all while keeping your utility bills low.

Condensing Tankless Water Heaters

Navien Premium Efficiency condensing tankless h2o heaters are the #1 selling high efficiency condensing tankless water heaters in North America. The NPE-2 serial offers ultra-high efficiency upward to 0.96 UEF to proceed your utility bills low, endless hot water, and exclusive ComfortFlow® applied science with a built-in recirculation pump and buffer tank.

Non-Condensing Tankless Water Heaters

Navien Premium Not-condensing tankless water heaters evangelize a continuous flow of hot water for every bit long every bit y'all demand it. No waiting for a tank to reheat more h2o, wasting time and energy. NPN series is the but non-condensing tankless water heater to offer NaviTech™ stainless steel rut exchanger and stainless steel burner for durable and eco-friendly performance.

Condensing VS Non-CondensingTankless Water Heaters

	Condensing	Non-Condensing
Efficiency	Ultra-high Efficiency (UEF up to .96)	High Efficiency (UEF > .80)
Venting	PVC adequate	3″ x v″ metallic concentric required
Installation Location	Indoor or Outdoor	Choice of interior or exterior
Long term operating cost	Lower than typical not-condensing tankless and storage tank system	Could exist college than condensing simply lower than storage tank systems
Durability	Stainless steel estrus exchanger extend service life	Stainless steel heat exchanger extend service life
Dimensions	Slightly larger than not-condensing, nearly 70-80% smaller than tank organization	Slightly smaller than condensing, eighty% smaller than tank system
Initial cost	Usually higher than comparable not-condensing	Normally lower than comparable condensing
Maintenance requirement	Almanac service recommended	Minimal

How a Tankless Water Heater Works

1. When a hot water tap is opened, the tankless water heater detects the period

2. The catamenia sensor activates to determine the amount of hot water needed

3. The igniter activates

4. The gas control valve opens to supply the correct corporeality of gas

5. The fan and venturi actuate to provide the correct amount of gas and fuel

6. The premix burner ignites providing a flame to heat the h2o

7. Common cold water is pre-heated in the secondary rut exchanger

8. Pre-heated water passes from the secondary to the master heat exchanger

9. The unit determines outgoing set temperature and adjusts the flame to estrus the water

10. Heated water moves to the buffer tank

11. Desired hot water corporeality delivered to the faucet

Besides providing hot water where and when it's needed, the NPE-2 Series offering homeowners the post-obit benefits:

• Much more energy efficient than old fashioned tank systems
• Ultra loftier energy efficiency —
  up to 0.96 UEF
• Backed past the manufacture's strongest warranty – 15 years on estrus exchangers

• Energy Star certified
• Takes about 80% less space than old fashioned tank heaters
• Longer lasting than tank heaters

• Easy to use control panel
• Elegant, clean advent
• Improves resale value
• Ideal for replacements or new construction

Telephone call Your Local H2o Heater Repair Company!

If you've tried these DIY fixes or you lot have a totally separate issue, we're here to help. Our licensed Northwest Arkansas plumbers tin assist y'all with all your tankless water heater needs. Our plumbers in Northwest Arkansas, Southwest Missouri, and Fort Smith work on every make and make of tankless water heaters, including Navien, Rinnai, Rheem, Bosch, EcoSmart, Stiebel, and more than. Phone call us!

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