Tankless water heaters can give you unlimited hot water, so you can shower as long as you like. However, they can also lower your water pressure. Many disappointed homeowners have found that their water pressure has lowered just after they got a tankless water heater installed. But proper installation shouldn’t cause this issue. So, what is going on, and how else might a tankless water heater impact your water pressure? Here is what you need to know.
How to Avoid Water Pressure Drops
Before you get your tankless water heater, there are two main things you can do to avoid suffering a drop in water pressure:
- Choose the correct size: Many water pressure issues are caused by choosing a unit that is too small for your needs. Calculate the size you need carefully and run your work by your plumber (or let them choose for you.)
- Get it installed by experts: Many different installation mistakes can lead to lowered water pressure. Work with experienced, qualified plumbers to avoid this.
If you already have your tankless water heater installed, there are a few things your plumber can attempt to try to fix the issue:
- Check the valves: The water supply valve may have accidentally closed during installation. This is a simple fix. Just open the valve.
- Flush the water supply:Perhaps something got stuck in the water supply line. Flushing it should clear it out.
- Look for other issues: Depending on the model and fuel, there may be other issues which could be causing the water pressure to drop. A professional can find them.
- Replace the model:If the unit is defective or is the wrong size for the home, the only solution is to replace it.
Maintain Your Tankless Water Heater
Over the long run, even a tankless water heater that is working perfectly may develop issues that lower your water pressure. The most common is sediment build-up. Unless you have a dedicated water softener in the line before your tankless water heater, you need to flush the tankless unit annually. Your plumber can handle this during your yearly maintenance appointment. If you don’t book one, the build-up will restrict the flow of water and drop your pressure.
Demand Enough Water
Your water pressure may change in a different way when you get a tankless water heater. You may not be able to have very small streams of hot water. For example, you might not be able to turn your tap on just slightly and expect a little bit of hot water. Smaller tankless water heaters need to generate a lot of energy to produce hot water. If you’re not taking enough of that heat away from the unit in the form of water, the unit can overheat and temporarily shut down to cool off. So, choose a larger, high-end model or expect to have to call for a good amount of hot water when you want any.
Something Else is Causing Your Low Water Pressure
What if your plumber didn’t find anything wrong with your tankless water heater? Something else might be causing your water pressure issues. They can look into it for you.
