Written on: April 13, 2021
If you get your water from a well or from a local municipal water supply here in Pennsylvania, chances are it contains a fair amount of minerals (the more minerals, the “harder” your water is).
Eventually, those minerals are going to crystalize in your plumbing system, causing a grey or white chalky-looking texture called limescale on surfaces where water touches.
That, of course, includes your water heater.
In a conventional storage water heater, minerals can accumulate at the bottom of your storage tank as sediment, which, if not flushed regularly, can reduce efficiency and even lead to premature equipment breakdown.
Since a tankless water heater doesn’t have a storage tank, that’s not an issue. However, the scale can still be a big problem on your tankless water heater’s heat exchanger (unless, of course, you install a water softening system).
When limescale builds up on the heat exchanger of a tankless water heater, your efficiency could drop by as much as 30 percent – essentially negating the efficiency benefits of using a tankless vs tank system.
The good news is it’s relatively easy to avoid a build-up of scale in your tankless water heater with a small investment of time and equipment.
Please note: Before you try it yourself, always read the instructions the manufacturer gave you first! While the procedure detailed below is fairly standard, there might be slight but important variations based on your particular model. If you’re not comfortable tackling this procedure, don’t worry – we can take care of it for you. Just give us a call!
What you’ll need
Typical steps to descale a tankless water heater
Descaling is not the only maintenance your water heater needs! Be sure to contact a water heater maintenance professional a minimum of once every two years for a conventional water heater, and once a year for a tankless water heater, to keep it running at its safest and best. Contact Ace-Robbins today to learn more about water heater maintenance in Wyoming County, PA!