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Plumbing Maintenance Checklist for Winter Months

During the winter season, a nice hot shower is a perfect cure to a long cold day. There’s nothing worse than when you go to take that shower and find the water is cold. Tankless water heaters are meant to heat water quickly, so you don’t face issues like running out of hot water. What does it mean if your tankless system doesn’t get hot?

At M.D. Plumbing & Mechanical, we get questions about winterizing tankless water heaters a lot. Here, we’ll share some information on why your water heater may not be working properly, and how you can fix it.

Signs Your Heater Isn’t Working

There are many ways to tell your tankless water heater isn’t working the way it should, or that your pipes have frozen, including:

• Cold water while you’re trying to run hot water
• Strange noises coming from pipes
• No water coming from pipes

If your tankless water heater isn’t warming water, don’t try and force it. Your pipes may need to thaw before you can safely use the system. We recommend speaking with a plumber about thawing pipes.

If it’s not a pipe problem, and strictly a tankless water heater problem, call your heating and cooling or plumbing experts to have somebody come take a look at the heater. There may be a reason, aside from winter frost, that keeps the tankless heater from operating the way it should. It’s always better to let a professional deal with your heater when possible to avoid breaking the system.

Freezing Weather Leads to Frozen Water

Extreme cold temperatures can cause problems for pipes and water heaters. A problem area for this type of weather is during the night when homeowners turn the heat down and aren’t regularly running water.

Tanks are also prone to freezing if the power goes out, or if you leave your home on an extended vacation.

For cabins and rental properties, especially, winterizing your tankless water heater is important. Many seasonal properties don’t see as many visits during the cold winter season. This leaves your pipes and heater to freeze while heat is off and plumbing isn’t being regularly used.

If you’re nervous about losing power or experiencing an icy winter night, you may want to invest in solenoid valves, which protect your tank from freezing. The valves work by draining the water from your tank if it loses power.

Call Us Today to Learn More

M.D. Plumbing & Mechanical is a leading provider of tankless water installation here in Charlotte, NC and the surrounding areas. Want to know more about M.D. Plumbing & Mechanical and our water heater services? Give us a call today to speak to a member of the team. We’re always happy to hear from new and returning customers.