A Temple Hills tankless water heater that won't heat usually has a simple cause, such as a tripped breaker, a blocked vent, low flow or scale, and a few safe checks can rule those out. Anything involving gas parts, or a full replacement, needs a WSSC Water permit and a registered gasfitter. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Temple Hills.
Temple Hills homes and tankless heaters
Temple Hills is mostly garden apartments, duplexes and single-family houses built from the 1950s through the 1970s, and the median home dates to about 1973. The Temple Hills mailing address also reaches past the census boundary into nearby neighborhoods, so homes vary from compact duplex utility rooms to full basements. Many tankless units here replaced an original tank, so the gas pipe and vent may have been adapted rather than redone. That matters when a unit starts acting up: undersized gas pipe and venting problems are common causes of ignition faults. Water comes from WSSC Water, and gas is generally Washington Gas, though BGE serves some areas of Prince George's County.
What to do now
- Write down the code. The display tells the plumber where to start.
- Check the breaker and plug. Gas tankless units need power for ignition, the fan and controls.
- See if gas is reaching the house. If the stove won't light either, the issue is upstream. If you smell gas, stop: leave the house, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (927-4427), option 1, from a safe place.
- Clear the outside vent. Leaves, snow and nests can block intake and exhaust.
- Run one tap wide open. A trickle may be below the unit's ignition threshold.
- Don't open the unit. Gas parts are for a gasfitter registered with WSSC Water.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Unit fires, then shuts down under heavy use | Gas pipe too small for full burner input |
| Lukewarm water in winter only | Unit undersized for cold inlet water |
| Fan or vent error | Blocked termination, failing fan or vent fault |
| Flow dropping month by month | Clogged inlet screen or scale buildup |
| Hot water that cycles hot and cold | Low flow or scale in the heat exchanger |
Cost factors
- A flush and screen cleaning versus a new fan, igniter, sensor or board
- Correcting gas pipe or venting, which brings a WSSC Water permit and inspection
- Full replacement, which needs a permit because the county requires one for water heater swaps
- Access in closets, duplex utility rooms and finished basements
- Replacing tired valves and connectors left from the original install
Tankless Water Heaters questions in Temple Hills
Should I repair or replace a tankless unit that keeps showing error codes?
Is my gas line big enough for a tankless heater?
Can a tankless heater freeze during a cold snap?
How often should a tankless heater be flushed?
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