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Tankless Water Heater
Repair in Little Rock, AR

The plumbing experts at BR McGinty can diagnose, repair, replace and install all brands of tankless water heaters. Our licensed plumbers have over 75 years of collective experience and are dedicated to providing central Arkansas residents with the best services possible. No matter the situation, our professional team is ready to solve the problem. For a dependable plumber in Little Rock, turn to BR McGinty — schedule an appointment for a FREE estimate!

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Types of Hot Water Heaters

There are two common types of water heaters: Tank-type & Tankless. Both types of water heaters come in gas and electric options. Due to energy efficiency and maintenance, we recommend a tankless water heater. Our water heater installers are experts in all types and can take your situation into account to help you choose the best fit for you and your home or business.

How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work?

Tankless water heaters (sometimes also referred to as on-demand water heaters) heat water as you need it. While traditional water heaters keep large amounts of water stored in tanks that they then need to work to keep heated constantly, tankless water heaters heat water at its point of entry when it’s ready to be used.

Tankless water heaters use natural gas or propane gas to heat water only when needed. When water flow is detected, tankless water heaters will begin heating water as it passes through the heat exchanger. When there is no longer a demand for water, the tankless water heater unit shuts down and uses no energy.

Tankless Water Heater Repair

Having hot water in your home is a necessity and if your tankless water heater doesn’t seem to be working, you need a professional to fix it and fix it fast. Not just any plumber can repair a tankless water heater — you need an experienced contractor. You can rely on the licensed plumbing technicians at BR McGinty to diagnose and repair any type of tankless water heater issue you may be having. We have experience working with all brands, including Noritz, Navien, Rheem, Rinnai, GE, Bosch, EcoSmart, Powerstar, Steibel Eltron, State and more.

Common tankless water heater problems include:

  • Overload – Depending on your tankless water heater’s capacity, too many simultaneous hot water applications (such as multiple showers running) can overload your water heater and cause problems. If your tankless water heater is overloaded, it may struggle to supply hot water to all users and in some cases, a system overload can lead to the heater shutting down entirely. If your issue is happening often, you should contact our team because you may need to consider replacing your tankless water heater with an upgraded unit or even getting a second one to make up the deficit. We can help determine the right solution.
  • Mineral or sediment buildup – The water heater and the pipes can be susceptible to becoming blocked partially or fully due to a buildup of minerals or sediment. Hard water (in contrast with soft water) is water with a high mineral content, and the harder your water, the higher the potential for damaging buildup. Calcium and magnesium are the two minerals that most often cause scaly buildup. Systems with iron pipes and components can rust and lead to iron sediment buildup. Over time, these minerals and sediment can become stuck in place, leading to a gradually growing buildup that narrows the passage that the water moves through. This can affect the pressure and temperature of the water and make it potentially unsafe. It is important to check the water filter in your water heater, especially if you have well water. Tank water heaters do not have to be cleaned as often, if ever, but tankless water heaters require more care for a long-lasting life. If you are experiencing problems related to buildup, our professionals can flush your system.
  • Blocked air supply or exhaust – For most tankless water heaters, the display will present an error code to inform you that your air supply or exhaust is blocked. This means your water heater is having issues with either combustion air or venting. Our technicians can inspect all vent pipes to ensure they are connected properly and free from puncture holes. When installing a tankless water heater, it’s important not to place it too close to other objects that can block the air supply and create a fire hazard.
  • Flame or ignition failure – If the flame fails to hold or ignite, there could be several reasons, but it is likely due to an electrical issue or a gas line issue. Either way, your heater will be unable to heat the water. First, check to see if your propane tank is low or if your gas supply has been cut due to a late bill. If your gas supply is fine, check to see that your water and gas valves are fully open, and open them if they aren’t. If this does not resolve the issue, then it could also be due to a gas line being too small, regulator failure, ignition pack failure, combustion issues, venting, and more. Our team can safely diagnose the issue and replace parts if necessary.

Tankless Water Heater Replacement

Preventative maintenance is the key to prolonging the life of your hot water system, but it will not last forever. Gas-burning tankless water heaters can last for 20 years or more, while tankless electric units have shorter life spans, at approximately 7 to 10 years. If your tankless water heater is near the end of its expected life span, it may be time to think about replacing it. As mentioned before, if you are experiencing an overload problem where your unit is not heating water for simultaneous uses, you may need to consider replacing your tankless water heater with an upgraded system. Additionally, if repairing your tankless water heater is not possible or would be more costly, it may make more sense to replace it. If you are considering converting from a traditional tank-type to a tankless water heater, sometimes it might not be the best solution. No matter the case, our team can help you select the right replacement water heater for your home or business.

Tankless Water Heater Installation

Tankless water heater installation is definitely a job for an experienced professional! It involves making leak-free water, vent, and gas connections, in the case of gas or propane units, or upgrading the wiring and circuit-breaker panel, in the case of electric units. Attempting a DIY install is not recommended due to the associated safety hazards. There are all sorts of rules and regulations to ensure that your appliances are installed correctly and safely — that’s where we come in!

Our plumbing technicians can keep all of the elements, including the plumbing system, the electrical system, building codes, bylaws, and manufacturer’s warranties, working together to reduce future problems. We at BR McGinty are all factory-trained, service trained, licensed, insured and bonded. We can install your tankless water heater and ensure proper and efficient operation. Additionally, we give you a 1-year installation warranty because we take pride in our work and have no problem backing it up and fixing anything that may have been overlooked.

Emergency Tankless Water Heater Repair

To better serve our clients, we offer 24-hour emergency services in which we are able to deliver an emergency plumber to your doorstep any time of the day or night, 365 days a year! We don’t want your comfort to suffer just because a problem occurs after normal business hours. We understand that hot water is a necessity for more than just bathing or showering; you also need it for laundry, cleaning dishes, etc., so you can rely on BR McGinty’s team to get repairs done efficiently, anytime.

Contact our Little Rock Water Heater Repair Experts

Whether it is plumbing or air conditioning and heating services, you can rely on BR McGinty to be there when you need us. Our Little Rock plumbers offer free consultations and estimates for all of your water heater needs!

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