As the seasons change and the weather cools down, my thoughts have turned to home maintenance. On that one cold day we has last week, I turned the boiler on and it immediately started making a noise – argh! It turned out to be the system pressure, which was an easy fix, but it got me thinking about all the things I should do to prepare my home for the cooler months…
The good news is that your tankless water heater will work to its optimum ability if it is well maintained and taken care of. There are many things that can be done to ensure the smooth running of your water heater this autumn. Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance guide for the best results and here are 4 more tips to help you maintain your tankless water heater:
PROPER INSTALLATION
One of the best ways to keep the heater well maintained is to install it properly from the beginning. A well-installed water heater will last longer and will be efficient. The unit should be well aligned to ensure that water is evenly heated and ensure that the heater does not have to overwork. You can also slow the rate at which water flows from the heater. This way, you will get much warmer water and the heater will use less energy.
REGULAR CLEANING
It is important that you keep your water heater clean throughout the year and there are cleaning kits you can buy to help you do this. The kit runs a vinegar through the supply lines and the heater. You’ll also need to flush out the system once every month to keep it free from mineral build-up. A water heater may accumulate dirt or minerals from the water and, over time, this could erode the walls of the heating chamber. Clearly, this is not something I want to happen! Check out this guide to cleaning a tankless water heater for advice from the pros. 
AVOID COLD WEATHER DAMAGE
There are many ways a tankless water heater can become damaged during the autumn and winter. The cold weather can freeze the pipes that lead to the system. So, if you suspect that the system is frozen, you shouldn’t try to run it. Instead, you should wait for the frozen water in the plumbing to thaw. Obviously, this isn’t ideal, as the time that you need your hot water the most is during the cold weather! However, you can avoid the problem by insulating the external pipes in advance – so this might be a task to tackle now before the cold weather hits.
REMOVE LIMESCALE FROM THE ELEMENT
Scale will build up on the heating elements up over time. When this limescale isn’t removed, it causes the efficiency of the water heater to go down. It’ll require longer burner cycles to heat the water and will also mean a shorter lifespan for the heater. Consult the manufacturer of the heater for the best way to clean off the limescale.
I hope these tips will help you to keep your heating system running well this autumn and please do let me know your own experience or advice on the subject in the comments below.
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