Tankless Water Heater Installation, Repair & Maintenance
Professional Plumbing Services installs, replaces, repairs and maintains tankless water heaters for homes and commercial properties in La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, Glendale and Burbank. We work on both gas and electric units, and we service tankless systems we did not install. Licensed, bonded and insured — California CSLB #1027398.
Installation and Replacement
A tankless installation is more involved than swapping a tank. Depending on the unit and the building, it can require gas line capacity that the existing line does not have, dedicated venting, electrical supply, condensate handling, and rework of the water connections where the old tank stood. We assess what the specific installation needs before quoting, rather than discovering it mid-job.
Where an existing gas line cannot support the unit’s demand, we handle the gas line work as part of the project. Where a property is replacing aging distribution piping at the same time, see repiping.
Repair and Diagnostics
Common reasons customers call us about an existing tankless unit include no hot water, water that runs hot then cold, the unit failing to ignite, error codes on the display, reduced flow at fixtures, or the system short-cycling. Causes range from scale buildup in the heat exchanger to gas supply and venting problems, ignition and flame-sensing faults, inlet filter blockage, or a fixture-side issue that has nothing to do with the heater.
We diagnose the actual cause before replacing parts. If the problem turns out to be upstream — supply pressure, gas volume, or a plumbing issue elsewhere in the building — we tell you that.
Flushing, Descaling and Maintenance
Tankless units heat water on demand through a heat exchanger, and in hard-water areas mineral scale accumulates on that exchanger over time. Scale reduces heat transfer and is a frequent contributor to temperature swings, error codes and premature component failure.
Descaling — circulating a descaling solution through the unit — along with cleaning the inlet screen and inspecting connections and venting is routine maintenance for these systems. Manufacturers publish their own service intervals, and we follow the interval and procedure specified for your unit. For managed and multi-unit properties, this can be folded into a preventive maintenance schedule.
Conventional vs. Tankless: What to Weigh
Tankless is not automatically the right answer for every building. Things worth considering before deciding:
- Hot water demand pattern. Tankless units are sized to a flow rate. Several fixtures running at once is a different sizing problem than sequential use.
- Installation requirements. Gas capacity, venting, electrical and condensate needs may add work that a tank replacement would not.
- Space. Tankless units are wall-mounted and free up the floor area a tank occupies, which matters in some closets, garages and equipment rooms.
- Maintenance commitment. These systems expect periodic descaling, particularly on hard water.
- Water quality. Local water hardness affects maintenance frequency.
We will give you a straight assessment of whether tankless makes sense for your situation, including when a conventional tank is the more sensible replacement. For background reading, see our article comparing electric and gas tankless water heaters, and how to tell when a water heater needs replacement.
Residential and Commercial Applications
Alongside single-family homes, tankless systems appear in condominium and apartment units, small commercial spaces, and properties where multiple point-of-use units serve separate areas. For multi-unit and commercial buildings we also handle central systems and recirculation — see HOA and property management plumbing.
Schedule Tankless Service
For installation, replacement, repair or a descaling service, call (818) 790-7270 or request service online. Related: water heater installation & repair. Licensed, Bonded & Insured — CSLB #1027398.
Tankless Water Heater FAQs
Do I really need to flush a tankless water heater?
Yes. Scale builds up on the heat exchanger, and it builds faster where the water is harder. Left alone it reduces hot-water output, makes the unit work harder and shortens its life. Descaling is routine maintenance, not a repair.
Why does my tankless heater run hot, then cold?
The usual causes are scale in the heat exchanger, a flow rate sitting below the unit’s activation threshold, a fouled inlet screen, or a venting or gas-supply problem. We start by checking flow and inspecting the exchanger rather than guessing.
Can I replace a tank water heater with a tankless unit?
Often, but it depends on three things: gas line capacity, venting, and where the unit can be mounted. Undersized gas piping is the most common reason a conversion underperforms, so we check that before recommending one.
Do you service tankless units you didn’t install?
Yes — repair, descaling and maintenance on existing units regardless of who installed them or what brand they are.
Do you work on tankless systems in condos and apartment buildings?
Yes. We work on individual units and on building systems for HOAs, property managers and commercial owners.
Which areas do you cover?
La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, Glendale and Burbank. Licensed, Bonded & Insured. CSLB #1027398. Call (818) 790-7270.