What Happens When A Tankless Water Heater Fails?
Already know what happens when a tank waterheater fails, had to mop the garage before. (also saw that Mythbusters)
But what happens when a tankless waterheater fails? what normally happens, and what is the worst that can happen?
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February 2, 2010 @ 4:18 pm
With a tank style water heater, you have a big tank of water waiting to leak. But if there wasn’t a tank full of water, there is constant water pressure being supplied to it, so if a leak occurs somewhere in the appliance, you still end up with a water spill. Exactly the same thing occurs with a tankless water heater.
The biggest difference is that a tank heater has a greater surface area for a leak to develop while a tankless is essentially a continuous run of pipes. Either can leak, but the tank has more places for a leak to occur.
Otherwise, barring a leak, failure in both is the same, no hot water.
I would equate them as being about equal as far a risk goes in the event of failure. However, in choosing between the two, I prefer the tankless model for many many reasons. You can read more about tankless heaters at http://www.acmediy.com/plumbing/tankless…
February 2, 2010 @ 8:47 pm
It all depends on how it fails. If the heater element fails it does not mean that you are going to have a leak, just no hot water. The worst that can happen is no worse than if a regular hot water heater fails. Basically the difference between a tankless and tank is the tank full of water setting there. Also the tankless has more detectors and controls. But as far as water leaks they both have the possibility and the results will be pretty much the same. You can get alarms for them that detect leaks and sound off, or you can get a electrically operated valve that when the sensor detects water the valve will shut off the water and stop the leak. All of them will work on both types of heater and with either electric or gas for fuel.
Talk to a plumber he/she can tell you all about what is available and the cost in your area.
February 2, 2010 @ 9:25 pm
Never thought about it actually. I guess it depends on the nature of the failure.
I mean….all it is is a giant heater of sorts that super-heats the water to the right temperature.
So either the coil fails (no elec) or the coil fails (water leak).
I don’t know enough about them to know if they have pressure up to the heater such that a check valve would close on the occurrence of a leak. Who installed it for you? How has it failed…and have you been happy with it (sorry, that one is for me).
If it’s a water related leak and you cannot fix it, you are relegated to either a damn good handyman, or a plumber. If it’s electric-related you, again, either need a handyman or electrician to look the thing over.
Altho probably an HVAC guy could deal with it just fine either way.
February 3, 2010 @ 12:55 am
You get not hot water.
They could fail in many ways. They can leak. The worst would probably be a fire or an explosion but more than likely it would be some component that fails and you wouldn’t know how to troubleshoot it yourself so you would have to call a repair man.
Nothing lasts forever and having a tankless waterheater installed can be expensive.
February 3, 2010 @ 3:26 am
You get no “tanks”.
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