Tankless Water Heaters 101: Installation, Maintenance, and What Most Plumbers Wish You Knew

Ever jumped in the shower expecting endless hot water, only for it to run cold halfway through? Maybe you finally got tired of paying to keep a big metal tank hot all day, but when you started looking at tankless options, all the details sounded too good to be true. Here’s what most plumbers won’t tell you upfront: tankless water heaters are great—when they’re set up right, but plenty of homeowners end up disappointed, out of cash, or dealing with constant repairs, all because nobody told them what to watch for.

If you’re thinking about switching to a tankless water heater, or if you already have one that’s acting up, there’s a lot more to know than what you’ll see in sales brochures. Below, you’ll find the real details about installation, maintenance, and the stuff that surprises people most.

Getting the Installation Right

Most problems start the day it’s installed. Don’t just pull out the old tank and slap a new box on the wall. It never works that way.

Make sure your plumber checks:

• Gas line size: Tankless units usually need a bigger line than your old heater.
  
• Venting: These heaters have different venting needs, and if you get it wrong, you’ll have constant error codes.
  
• Electrical setup: Some models need more power than others.
  
• Unit size: If you buy a unit that’s too small, you’ll still run out of hot water with two showers running.
  

If any of these details are skipped, you’re setting yourself up for headaches and more calls for water heater repair.

What Maintenance Actually Looks Like

Tankless doesn’t mean maintenance-free. Far from it. Here’s what you’re really signing up for:

• Yearly flushing: Hard water builds up scale inside the unit. Ignore this, and you’ll ruin the heat exchanger.
  
• Filter cleaning: Most have filters that get clogged with time.
  
• Check error codes: If you see one, don’t just reset it and hope for the best. There’s usually a reason.
  

If your hot water starts to “pulse,” cut out, or takes longer to heat, it’s time for a maintenance check. Don’t wait for it to quit completely.

Things Plumbers Wish Homeowners Knew

If you want to avoid disappointment, keep this in mind:

• No such thing as “instant” hot water at every tap. You’ll wait a few seconds, same as before, unless you add a recirculation pump.
  
• Not all plumbers understand tankless. Ask how many they’ve actually installed and maintained.
  
• Higher upfront cost. You’ll pay more to get it set up right, but you’ll save in the long run if you use a lot of hot water.
• Yearly maintenance isn’t optional. Skipping it can mean a big repair bill down the road.

If You Want Your Tankless Water Heater To Actually Deliver What You Paid For, Trust The Right Plumber

If you’re thinking about going tankless but want a plumber who actually explains the details, not just the price tag, give Acacias Plumbing a call.

We’ll size your system right, handle the tricky parts of the install, and show you exactly how to keep your tankless heater running for the long haul. And if your current tankless unit is giving you trouble—codes on the screen, lukewarm water, or just not living up to the hype—we can fix that too. 

Tankless water heater installation done right, repairs that actually last, and honest advice when you need it. That’s what you get from Acacias Plumbing.