Common Tankless Water Heater Repairs In Florida

March 05, 2018

Have a tankless water heater that’s been giving you trouble?

If you think a repair is in your future, you probably have lots of questions like:

• Do I really need a professional to fix my water heater?
• How much does it cost to repair a tankless water heater?
• Who should I call to fix my water heater?

Don’t worry. We’ll answer all these questions so that you can have your hot water restored in no time.

Have a tank water heater and need a repair? We’ve got a blog for that, too. Check out our in-depth tank water heater repair article here.

Need a plumber to repair your water heater? Just contact us—we offer same-day service and honest, upfront pricing. 

Do I really need a professional plumber to repair my tankless water heater?

Here’s the thing: Yes, most tankless water heater repairs require a professional.

Why? Well, tankless water heaters are, by design, much more complex machines than their tank counterparts.

But it never hurts to try some simple DIY troubleshooting before you pay a professional to come out. That said, we’ve listed some common water heater problems below paired with a few troubleshooting steps that might just save you a service call.

Note: If you’ve exhausted these DIY troubleshooting tips and you’re still having problems, contact a professional to inspect, diagnose and repair your tankless water heater.

“I’m not getting hot water from my tankless water heater”

Troubleshooting steps to try before calling a plumber:

1. Check to make sure the unit has electricity. Both electric and gas tankless water heaters require an electric hookup. Make sure that your unit is either hooked up to a 120-volt outlet (which should be located near the water heater) or check your electrical panel for a breaker labeled “water heater” and make sure it’s in the ON position.
   
   Note: If the breaker is in the OFF position and immediately snaps back to this position when you try to reset it, don’t continue trying to reset the breaker. Call a professional immediately as this is a sign of a larger electrical problem.
   
2. Make sure that the gas valve is turned on. If you have a gas tankless water heater, find the gas valve (seen here as the “gas supply”). If it’s in the OFF position, just rotate the handle counter-clockwise to the ON position.
3. Turn on a hot water tap to test for hot water. If you’re still not getting hot water from your tankless unit, it’s time to call a professional.

Still not getting hot water? You probably have one of the following problems (that require a professional):

• A bad gas valve
• A faulty electronic ignition
• Overheated unit
• Sediment buildup
• Too many fixtures connected to the unit
• Bad heating elements (only in electric tankless units)

“My tankless water heater has water pressure issues”

Low water pressure is a typical problem with tankless water heaters and is usually caused by running too many hot water appliances at one time.

Follow these steps to troubleshoot low water pressure problems:

1. Run a hot shower and test the water pressure. Make sure all other hot water appliances are turned off. Note the strength of the water pressure.
   
   Have low water pressure even when only one hot water appliance is running at a time? Skip to step #4…
   
2. Turn on several other hot water appliances. For example, you can turn on the dishwasher and a hot water tap at a sink—while the shower is still running.
3. Return to the shower and test the water pressure again. If the pressure is much lower now, you either need to limit your hot water demand or ask a plumber about upgrading your tankless water heater.
4. Lower the output temperature on the water heater. Tankless water heaters heat water on demand. So, if your temperature is set too high, the unit may be slowing the flow to give the water more time to reach the output temperature. Most tankless units have a digital display that allows you to manually adjust the temperature.

After you lowered the temperature, are you still getting low water pressure? If so, you probably have one of the following tankless water heater problems (that require professional help):

• A dirty cold water inlet filter
• Sediment buildup

“My tankless water heater is leaking”

Unfortunately, if your tankless water heater is leaking, there’s no DIY solution. You need to contact a professional right away.

You see, tankless water heaters heat water on demand—they never store hot water. Because of this, any leaking you notice from the unit is a sign of a bigger problem.

If your tankless water heater is leaking, you may have one of the following problems:

• Sediment buildup
• Improper venting (only in gas units)
• Faulty water pipe connections

How much does it cost to repair a tankless water heater?

In Florida, the cost to repair a tankless water heater can vary from $150 to $800+. The average tankless water heater repair costs $603.

Of course, the cost of your particular tankless water heater repair will depend on a handful of factors, including:

• The age of the water heater
• The scope/severity of the problem
• The plumber you choose
• Whether or not the unit’s warranty is valid

To get an accurate quote for your repair, you’ll need to have a plumber first inspect the unit. Then, they should be able to give you an estimate.

Heads up, though, most plumbers will charge a “diagnostic fee” (also called a “trip charge” or “service charge”), which covers the cost to come to your home, inspect and diagnose the unit (but doesn’t include the cost of the actual repair). The good news is that some plumbers will waive that diagnostic fee if you choose them to repair the unit.

Who should I call to fix my water heater?

The short answer? A plumber.

The longer (and more helpful) answer? A qualified, experienced, and honest plumber.

In other words, choose a plumbing company that:

• Is licensed and insured by the state of Florida (Not sure if a plumber is licensed? Just ask them for their license number and enter it into this portal for verification)
• Has been in business for at least 10 years
• Can provide 2–3 referrals (of past customers) that you can contact directly to verify the company’s professionalism
• Offers upfront pricing estimates—in writing

Need professional tankless water heater repair in Florida?

Just contact us. We have locations in Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota, & Naples and serve the surrounding areas with expert plumbing service.

We’ve been in business for over 50 years, offer same-day service and will waive our service fee if you choose to have us repair your water heater.