Keep your home in hot water by getting the most out of your tankless hot water heater
One of the perks of choosing a tankless water heater over a traditional tank model is its long lifespan, but exactly how long does a tankless water heater last?
The number of years your tankless water heater keeps your home flowing with warm water largely depends on how well you maintain it. We’ll take a deep dive into tankless water heaters and break down the factors that impact how long this appliance will last.
You can expect about 20 years out of this type of water heater, far longer than the 8 to 10 years you’ll get out of a tank water heater. Keep in mind that tankless water heaters with copper heat exchangers tend to wear out faster, with a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. However, the extended longevity of this appliance depends on the proper yearly maintenance.
Tankless water heaters typically last about twice as long as tank water heaters because they experience less corrosion, sentiment build-up, and leaks. While this type of water heater’s extended lifespan is a surefire selling point, keep reading to learn more about the factors that may impact its age and abilities.
While keeping up with your tankless water heater’s maintenance schedule is crucial to getting the most out of this appliance, other factors affect its lifespan, including water quality, location, and type of heat exchanger.
Hard water can wreak havoc on home appliances, and tankless water heaters are no exception.
Over time, the minerals that make hard water, including calcium, magnesium carbonates, sulfates, and bicarbonates, collect inside the water heater and the pipes leading to and from it, creating a condition plumbers refer to as pipe scaling.
As this sediment builds up, it restricts the flow of hot water and causes corrosion that damages the water heater’s internal parts. Both tank and tankless hot water heaters are prone to this issue because hot water accelerates the scaling process.
While some new water heaters combat scaling by increasing the water pressure as it flows through the tankless system, forcing sediment to pass through it, many units are susceptible to this problem. That’s why it’s essential to test your water heater’s water quality to determine its quality, which could impact its overall performance and lifespan.
Where you install a tankless water heater in your home will also affect its lifespan. Water heaters located outside or in an unfinished part of the home that isn’t climate controlled, such as a garage or crawl space, must work harder during colder months to heat the water that passes through it. This tankless water heater location puts more wear and tear on the water heater, ultimately shortening its life.
The heart of your tankless water heater is its heat exchanger, which is responsible for transferring heat to the cold water that passes through the unit. There are two types of heat exchangers found in tankless water heaters: copper and stainless steel.
Since copper conducts heat much better than stainless steel, tankless units with copper heat exchangers are considerably more efficient than models with stainless steel heat exchangers.
However, copper is also much more susceptible to scaling from hard water than stainless steel. As a result, a tankless water heater with a copper heat exchanger will wear more quickly than one with a stainless steel exchanger.
The difference is pretty significant. A tankless water heater with a copper heat exchanger will last about 12 to 15 years, while a tankless water heater with a stainless steel heat exchanger will last between 15 and 20 years.
Maintenance is key to getting the most out of any major appliance, and tankless water heaters are no exception. Failing to keep up with your water heater’s maintenance can take years off its lifespan.
Maintaining a tankless water heater involves periodically flushing it out, removing any minerals built up on its internal components and debris caught inside it. It’s also important to periodically replace or clean the system’s water filter.
There are few measures you can take to get the most bang for your buck out of a tankless water heater. Here are four ways to prolong its life:
Flushing out your tankless water heater is crucial in the battle against the scaling that threatens to shorten its life. Keep sediment at bay by flushing your tankless water heater once a year. Some tankless water heaters have sensors that monitor sediment and trigger an indicator light when it builds up, letting you know it's time to flush the system.
You can perform the job yourself by purchasing a water heater flushing kit at your local home improvement store, or you can hire a professional plumber in your area to flush the tankless water heater for you.
The reusable kit costs between $120 to $150, including an electric pump, hoses, cleaning agent, and bucket. Expect to pay a professional plumber about $330 per hour to flush the system.
Maintaining a tankless water heater doesn’t only require flushing out the system periodically. It may also require using an automatic compressor to remove any dirt or debris collected inside the system and other preventive maintenance.
You should have tankless heater maintenance performed by a professional every few years or once a year if you have hard water. While tankless water heater maintenance can cost between $50 and $200 per visit, given that regular maintenance can increase a tankless water heater’s lifespan by as much as five years, it’s worth the cost.
If you want to eliminate the threat of sediment altogether, you can stop it from ever making it to your tankless water heater by installing a whole-home water softener.
In addition to extending the life of your water heater, a water softener will also preserve other major appliances in your home, including the clothes washer and dishwasher, by keeping them sediment-free. Your skin and hair will appreciate the softer water, too. Contact a local water softener installer to review your options.
Pay attention to the tankless water heater’s components when shopping for it, especially if you have hard water. While a water heater with a copper heat exchanger may be more efficient at heating water, it’s more prone to scaling than a model that’s equipped with a stainless steel heat exchanger.
You may have to dig to find information about what type of material the water heater’s heat exchanger is made of. Information about a tankless water heater’s heat exchanger is typically found on its spec sheet, but it’s worth the extra effort.
Not sure whether your tankless water heater is nearing its expiration date? Check for the following telltale signs that it will need repairs or replacement soon.
Running out of hot water: If you find your hot showers are becoming shorter and shorter due to a lack of hot water, the problem may be an aging tankless heater that’s no longer able to keep up with the demand for hot water in your home.
Inconsistent water temperature: One of the most telling signs that your tankless water heater is aging is fluctuating water temperature. If you’re suddenly blasted with ice-cold water or scalding hot water mid-shower, it’s a sign that something is wrong with the water heater.
Low water pressure: Over time, mineral deposits can form in your tankless water heater, inhibiting the flow of hot water. If you’re experiencing low water pressure in your home, it may be the sign of an aging water heater clogged with sediment.
Leaks: Leaks are much more common with tank water heaters; however, they’re not unheard of with tankless models. Water pooling under the heater or drips are signs of damage to the water heater’s internal components or its plumbing.
Shuts itself off: Tankless heaters are designed with a safety shut-off mechanism that prevents the system from overheating if there’s a clog. Often the problem is with a whole-home filter rather than the water heater itself. However, sometimes it’s the result of major scaling problems inside the tankless heater.
Odd noises: Those strange noises coming from your tankless water heater is the sound of sediment being pushed around inside of it. Unfortunately, the banging noise is often a death knell for most water heaters.
