A tankless water heater is a valuable appliance that can greatly add to your home's convenience and comfort. To get the most out of this investment, you need to properly maintain the heater. The first step to good maintenance is to recognize the signs that you need service. Here are four signs that your tankless water heater needs service.

1. Change in Water Quality

If you happen to notice a sudden change in water quality, it could indicate a problem. Some things to look for would include cloudy or rusty water or water filled with sediment. These are signs of serious malfunctions. Your first step should be to call your water supplier if you're on a municipal system, to make sure there isn't a problem with the local water. If that's not the issue, then you should contact a tankless water heater service in your area for an inspection.

2. Smelly Water

Water that has an odor is always a sign that something is going wrong somewhere. Usually, a metallic taste in the hot water indicates the water heater is to blame. This could mean your water has high iron levels. Water high in iron isn't safe for consumption, so you should get this taken care of quickly. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, tankless water heaters deliver two to five gallons of hot water per minute. Many storage tank water heaters take longer to heat water, because of the larger volume of water they must heat, than most tankless types. A skilled plumber or water heater specialist will be able to diagnose the problem quickly and get repairs done.

3. Loud Noises

Another sign of trouble can be loud booming or banging sounds. This is usually a sign that sediment is building up in the system. This needs to be flushed out quickly in order to avoid worsening problems that are more expensive to correct.

4. Inconsistent Hot Water

If your tankless water heater isn't producing consistent hot water, you probably need to have it serviced. When your water heater is working properly, you should be able to get hot water consistently without any issues. If you aren't getting this type of performance, you'll want to have the system inspected and possibly serviced.

These are just a few signs that you might need tankless water heater service. If you're looking for qualified professionals in your area, please contact Faucet Brothers Plumbing today. We look forward to hearing from you.