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If you’ve leaped a tankless water heater, you might be wondering what future expenses are in store. Unfortunately, tankless water heaters aren’t invulnerable, and heat exchangers, one of their core components, can break down. So, how much does it cost to repair or replace a tankless water heater heat exchanger?
We’ve serviced countless tankless water heaters in Los Angeles County and its surrounding areas. One thing we can tell you is that keeping up on yearly maintenance can prevent scary issues from popping up and leaving your family without hot water. But if the worst does happen, what then? Well, things aren’t as cut and dry as they might seem when it comes to heat exchangers.
In this article, we’ll fill you in on what a heat exchanger is, the costs associated with heat exchanger repair and replacement, and what both options depend on.
A heat exchanger is the heart of a tankless water heater. This component is responsible for heating the water entering your home.
Heat exchangers work in tandem with an igniter flame and a flow sensor. When you turn on a fixture in your home that demands hot water, the water passes over the flow sensor, which tells the igniter flame to turn on.
The flame heats the water passing through the coils of the heat exchanger to the preset temperature. The hot water then leaves the heat exchanger and flows to the fixture demanding the water.
Needless to say, if the heat exchanger breaks, you’ve got a serious problem on your hands. So, can you repair a broken heat exchanger, or do you need to replace it? Let’s find out.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Tankless Water Heater Heat Exchanger?
Let’s rip the bandaid off. There is no repairing a broken heat exchanger. Once this core component is done, it’s done for good, and you’ll have to replace it.
So, this is a bit of a trick question without a satisfying answer. Instead, we have to look at the cost to replace, which can vary depending on your situation.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Tankless Water Heater Heat Exchanger?
All right, now, onto the real answers. If your heat exchanger tanks are on you, then you’re looking at a relatively hefty bill. You can expect labor on a heat exchanger swap to hit around $650.
On top of the initial $650 labor cost, you’ll want to consider performing maintenance while your technician is there. This maintenance will run somewhere around $249.
While you’ll be getting a fresh heat exchanger, the rest of the tankless water heater might also need some TLC. Heat exchangers often break due to improper maintenance, so while this adds to the bill, it will also ensure your tankless water heater is working at its peak by the time your technician wraps.
Now, how about the heat exchanger itself? How much does the part cost? Well, this depends on whether the unit is under warranty or not. If your tankless water heater is out of warranty, then you can count on a cost of $400 to $800, depending on your model.
If your unit is in warranty, then you won’t have to worry about the cost of the part and will instead just need to worry about the cost of labor and maintenance should you choose to go that route.
Now, if your heat exchanger is out of warranty and you plan on replacing it, you might need to think twice. Typically, when purchasing a heat exchanger out of pocket, you’ll only get about a year of warranty coverage. This makes getting an entirely new unit a better choice in many cases since you’ll get full coverage and a fresh start.
You’ll have to figure this out for yourself since installing a new tankless water heater can be pricey.
So, That’s What It Costs to Replace a Heat Exchanger?
We’ve broken down whether you can repair a tankless water heater heat exchanger and what it costs to replace a heat exchanger. While the answer to whether a heat exchanger can be repaired is highly unsatisfying, replacement is always an option. Now, you can have a more realistic expectation of what you’ll have to do if your tankless water heater heat exchanger breaks down.
After years of replacing tankless water heater heat exchangers, we can confidently tell you there is no way around this pitfall if you run into a broken heat exchanger. But all hope isn’t lost, and if you call a technician promptly, you’ll be able to save your tankless water heater unit.
If you need a hand with replacing your heat exchanger or would like to book a consultation for another issue, call us at (818) 213-1773. You can also book an appointment online on our Tankless Water Heater page.
It’s best to know how long their lifespan is to get a better grip on what you can expect with a tankless water heater. You can also check out an example of what different types of installation look like.
