Many homeowners opt for tankless water heaters when it's time to replace their current unit. These are efficient units that provide unlimited hot water on demand. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a typical tankless water heater can generate hot water at a rate of two to five gallons every minute. With this speed in mind, here are three situations where it's imperative to give a professional tankless water heater repair service a call.

1. The Heater's Giving You an Error Message

The front of your heater has a display panel where you'll sometimes see error messages or other pertinent information. Usually, an error message can be easily cleared by simply addressing the issue and then rebooting the heater. When you're seeing error messages that won't clear, it's time to give your local professional a call.

2. The Heater's Emitting a Noticeable Odor

Another sure sign that something's amiss with your heater is the presence of odd smells and odors coming from the heater. This often happens when the heater is fueled through the gas line in your home. This is one situation where you'll want to give your plumber a call right away. These smells can be an indication that there's a problem with either your tankless heater or your home's gas line. In any event, you'll want to have a plumber come take a look without delay.

3. The Heater's Nearing the End of Its Usable Life

Like most household appliances, your tankless water heater isn't going to last forever. When it starts to require ongoing repairs, or it seems like you're not getting the hot water as efficiently as before, the heater is likely nearing the end of its usable life. Contact your local plumber to get their opinion on whether the unit should be repaired or replaced. They'll also be able to give you recommendations on which replacement model will be the best for your needs. Don't keep repairing an old heater that should be replaced; today's heaters are often more efficient and cost-effective than those manufactured in the past.

Call Faucet Brothers Plumbing when you need reliable tankless water heater repair services. We'll have your heater back up and working in no time. We look forward to hearing from you soon!