Water Heater Repair
We find what's cutting off your hot water and fix the part that failed.
Serving Homeowners for 30+ years
Tankless Water Heater Services in Chicagoland and Columbus, OH
A tankless water heater can last 20 years, but only with the right gas line, the right venting and a yearly descaling. We repair, install and maintain tankless units from all major brands, and we'll tell you up front if your home isn't a good fit.
Tankless Water Heater Repair
Tankless units are more complex than tanks, with sensors, a circuit board and a heat exchanger. Most problems still come down to a short list. Here's what each sign usually means, and how we fix it.
| What You Notice | What's Usually Wrong | How We Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| An error code on the display | The unit has found a problem and shut itself off to stay safe. The code tells us where to start. | Read the code, test the part it points to and replace it if it failed |
| Water goes hot, then cold, then hot again | A short burst of cold water between uses is normal for tankless. If it happens mid-shower, it's often a dirty flow sensor or scale buildup. | Clean or replace the sensor and descale the unit |
| The unit shuts off in the middle of a shower | Mineral scale, a blocked vent or a gas line too small for the unit | Descale, clear the vent or check the gas supply |
| No hot water at all | A failed igniter, a bad flame sensor or no gas reaching the unit | Replace the failed part and test the burner |
| Weak hot water pressure | Scale inside the heat exchanger or a clogged inlet filter | Descale the unit and clean the filter |
| Water leaking from the unit | A loose fitting, a bad valve, or a cracked heat exchanger | Fix the fitting or valve. A cracked heat exchanger usually means it's time to replace the unit |
If you smell gas near the unit, don't try to reset it. Leave the house, call your gas company, then call us.
Installation
Tankless Water Heater Installation
Most tankless problems we fix started on installation day: a gas line that's too small, the wrong vent or a unit that's undersized for the house. Here's what we check before we install one.
Is Your Home Ready for Tankless?
A gas tankless unit burns a lot more gas at once than a tank does. Many homes need a bigger gas line to keep up. Most units also need new venting, and some need a dedicated electrical outlet. Electric tankless units can need a major electrical upgrade. We check all of this before you buy anything, and if your home can't support tankless, we'll tell you.
Sizing by Flow, Not Gallons
A tankless unit is sized by how many gallons per minute it can heat, not by tank size. We count how many showers and faucets might run at the same time. In Chicagoland and Central Ohio, we also size for winter, when the water coming into your home is much colder and the unit has to work harder to heat it. A unit that's fine in July can fall short in January.
Switching From a Tank
Replacing a tank with tankless frees up floor space, since most units mount on the wall. The trade-off is a bigger install: new gas, venting and sometimes electrical work. We walk you through the full scope and price before you decide.
Tankless Water Heater Maintenance and Descaling
A tankless unit doesn't collect sediment the way a tank does. Instead, minerals stick to the inside of the heat exchanger as scale. Scale cuts down your hot water, triggers error codes and can crack the heat exchanger over time.
Once a year, we flush and descale the unit to clear that scale out. With hard water, or if you skip a year, it builds up faster.
Is a Tankless Water Heater Worth It?
For many homes, yes. We install and service every major tankless brand, including Navien, Rinnai and Rheem, so we've seen where tankless pays off and where a tank is still the better call. It's not the right fit for every house, and we'd rather tell you that now than after the install. Here's how it breaks down:
Why people switch
- Hot water doesn't run out, even with back-to-back showers
- Lasts about 20 years with yearly descaling, compared with 8 to 12 for most tanks
- Mounts on the wall and frees up floor space
- Uses energy only when you run hot water
What to know first
- Costs more up front than a tank
- Often needs a bigger gas line, new venting or electrical work
- Needs descaling every year to last
- Hot water doesn't reach the tap faster. It still has to travel through your pipes
If a tank makes more sense for your home, we'll say so. See our water heater replacement options.
Financing
Fix It With Financing As Low As 0%
We've partnered with trusted lenders, so you can get the service you need now and pay on your terms.
Subject to credit approval. Rates and terms vary.
Ask about your options
What Happens When You Call J. Blanton
1. We Diagnose Before We Recommend
We test the unit and find out what actually failed before we say a word about replacing it. You see what's wrong and why.
2. You See Your Options Before We Start
Your technician will explain your options and provide a flat rate before any money changes hands. If a repair will do the job, that's what we recommend.
3. We Stand Behind the Work
We stand behind every job we perform. We won't leave until your hot water is back.
Customer Stories
Tankless Water Heater Reviews
★★★★★
“Second time we have used J Blanton. Matt did a great job installing our tankless water heater. Alex was very helpful talking through the pros and cons of tank vs tankless. Thanks guys!”
★★★★★
“Adem did a terrific job of repairing my Navien tankless water heater. He and his partner were thorough, tidy, and explained their work very well. [...] Thank you!”
★★★★★
“Jarrod was so friendly and helpful! He explained all of the options clearly and did not pressure. I would recommend these guys to anyone!”
Got Questions?
Tankless Water Heater FAQs
Yes. Most problems come down to one part, like an igniter, a flame sensor, a flow sensor or scale buildup, and those can be fixed.
Yes. Most problems come down to one part, like an igniter, a flame sensor, a flow sensor or scale buildup, and those can be fixed. A cracked heat exchanger is the main exception. On an older unit, that usually makes replacement the better choice.
About 20 years with yearly descaling. Without it, scale can shorten that by years and lead to a cracked heat exchanger.
About 20 years with yearly descaling. Without it, scale can shorten that by years and lead to a cracked heat exchanger.
Once a year for most homes. If you have hard water and no softener, every six months can make sense.
Once a year for most homes. If you have hard water and no softener, every six months can make sense. Descaling is the main job on each visit.
Usually, yes, but it's more than a swap. Most homes need a bigger gas line and new venting, and the unit has to be sized for how many showers run at once.
Usually, yes, but it's more than a swap. Most homes need a bigger gas line and new venting, and the unit has to be sized for how many showers run at once. We check your gas line, venting and electrical before you decide.
Mineral scale. It builds up inside the heat exchanger, cuts down your hot water and makes the unit shut off or show an error code.
Mineral scale. It builds up inside the heat exchanger, cuts down your hot water and makes the unit shut off or show an error code. Yearly descaling prevents most of it.
For a repair, it depends on which part failed and the brand.
For a repair, it depends on which part failed and the brand. For an installation, it depends on the unit size and whether your home needs gas, venting or electrical updates. You get a flat price before any work starts. Financing as low as 0% is available.
Annual Protection Plan
Join the No Drip Club and Keep Your Tankless Unit Running
The No Drip Club is our membership program. Members get:
- Two scheduled maintenance visits a year, including water heater maintenance that covers descaling for tankless units
- 10% off all service and equipment
- A 5-year labor warranty, instead of the standard 1 year
- No emergency fees, trip charges or after-hours charges
What We Handle
Other Water Heater Services
Learn More
Water Heater Installation & Replacement
A new unit sized for your household and installed to code.
Water Heater Maintenance & Flush
A yearly flush clears out the mineral buildup that wears tanks down.
Commercial Water Heaters
Service for businesses that can't run without hot water.
Emergency Service
For a leaking tank or a cold shower that can't wait until tomorrow.
Get Started Today
Ready for Hot Water That Doesn't Run Out?
We've been installing and servicing water heaters since 1993, tankless included. Call us, and we'll tell you what your unit needs, or whether tankless fits your home at all.
24/7 Emergency ServiceNights, weekends and holidays.
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