Tankless Water Heater Repair in Hickory, NC

Navien Service Specialist - Same-Day Mon-Fri 8 AM-5 PM

Tankless Water Heater Repair Across Catawba County

If your tankless water heater is throwing an error code, not producing hot water, cycling on and off, or has just stopped working, A&B Plumbing in Hickory, NC repairs it. We are a Navien Service Specialist - the only one in Catawba County - and we also service Rinnai, Rheem, Noritz, and other major tankless brands. Most repairs finish in one visit because we carry the common parts on the truck.

Call (980) 276-0199 Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. If you know the error code on the display, mention it when you call - the dispatcher can sometimes triage on the phone.

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Common Tankless Water Heater Failures We Fix

No Hot Water at All

Most common causes: gas supply issue (closed valve, low pressure, propane tank empty), ignition failure (cold igniter, fouled flame rod), flame loss during operation (gas pressure, vent restriction), or a flow sensor that does not detect water demand. The unit's error code points us to the cause - we test, then repair.

Lukewarm or Fluctuating Temperature

Inlet water filter clogged, flow sensor dirty or failing, gas pressure low under demand, or scale buildup choking the heat exchanger. A descaling fixes most scale-related symptoms; the rest are parts swaps after diagnosis.

Tankless Cycling On and Off

Short-cycling on a tankless usually points to flow-rate problems - the unit cannot maintain a consistent demand. Aerators clogged with sediment, undersized cold-line supply, or a failing flow sensor are the typical causes.

Error Code on the Display

Every modern tankless has a digital display that throws a numeric or alphanumeric code when something goes wrong. We read the code and the unit's recent error history (when available), then diagnose. On Navien units we can clear most codes after the fix without a factory tool.

Scale & Mineral Buildup

The most common reason an older tankless starts failing in Catawba County. Hard water above 7 grains per gallon - common in outlying areas on private wells - drops minerals inside the heat exchanger over time. A proper descaling flush clears it; left untreated long enough, it eventually requires a heat-exchanger replacement.

Navien Tankless Repair (NPE, NPN, NCB)

A&B Plumbing is a Navien Service Specialist. Brandon is factory-trained on Navien's full residential lineup and we keep common Navien parts on the truck so most repairs finish in one visit.

Common Navien error codes and what they usually mean:

  • E003 - Ignition failure. Igniter, flame rod, gas supply, or first-time-start grounding issue. We test and replace the failed component.
  • E012 - Flame loss during operation. Gas pressure dropping under demand, vent restriction, flame rod fouling, or gas supply issue.
  • E110 - Exhaust/intake fan or air-pressure sensor. Fan motor, fan blade, air-pressure switch, or blocked vent termination.
  • E351 - Cold-water inlet sensor or water-pressure fault. Sensor, inlet filter, or low incoming water pressure.
  • E515 / E516 - PCB / control board faults.

We can read the code, walk through the actual cause on site, and quote the repair before any parts change. Most common Navien parts (igniters, flame rods, flow sensors, fan assemblies, water-pressure sensors, inlet water filters) ride on the truck.

Tankless Descaling - When and Why

Hard water leaves minerals (mostly calcium and magnesium) inside the tankless heat exchanger over time. The buildup chokes flow, reduces efficiency, raises operating temperatures, and eventually throws error codes. A proper descaling pulls the buildup out and restores full performance.

What our descaling includes:

  1. Isolate the unit at the service valves and shut off gas/power.
  2. Connect a pump-driven descaler with food-grade descaling solution.
  3. Circulate solution through the heat exchanger for 45 to 60 minutes.
  4. Rinse with fresh water until pH-neutral.
  5. Clean the inlet water filter.
  6. Check error history and confirm full flow restored.

Annual descaling is standard for city water. For outlying Catawba County homes on hard well water without a softener, every 6 to 9 months is smarter. See tankless water heater service for the annual maintenance schedule.

When Tankless Repair Beats Replacement

Tankless units are designed to last 15 to 20 years with annual flushing - much longer than tank water heaters. That changes the repair calculus:

  • Under 12 years old, common failure (flow sensor, flame rod, igniter, fan motor) - repair. Parts replacement is a fraction of unit-replacement cost.
  • Scale-related failure on any age unit - descale first, then evaluate. Most scale damage is reversible if caught early.
  • Heat exchanger leaking or corroded - lean replace. Heat exchanger replacement on most units is cost-prohibitive vs. a new unit.
  • Over 18 years old, any major failure - replace. The next failure is usually weeks away.

We diagnose, then tell you which makes sense. We do not push replacement when repair is the right call.

Same-Day Tankless Repair in Hickory

No hot water from a tankless unit is a same-day call during business hours. We dispatch from our Hickory and Conover offices and most service calls finish in one visit because we keep Navien and other common tankless parts on the truck.

If a tankless failure hits after hours, shut the water and gas off at the unit, document for insurance if there is any water damage, and call us at 8 AM. We prioritize overnight emergencies on the morning schedule. For the full after-hours protocol, see emergency plumber Hickory NC.

Frequently Asked Questions - Tankless Repair

Yes. We are a Navien Service Specialist, factory-trained on the NPE, NPN, and NCB lines. Mention the code when you call - the dispatcher can sometimes triage on the phone. Most Navien parts ride on the truck so most repairs finish in one visit.

Diagnostic is flat-rate. Repair cost depends on the part - flow sensor, igniter, and inlet filter swaps are on the lower end; fan motors, gas valves, and PCB boards are higher. We quote on site before any work. Financing through Wisetack is available for higher-ticket repairs.

Under 12 years old with a common failure - repair. Scale-related failure on any age - descale first. Heat exchanger leaking or corroded - lean replace. Over 18 years old with any major failure - replace. We diagnose and tell you which side you are on.

Annually on city water. Every 6 to 9 months on hard well water without a softener (common in outlying Catawba County). Skipping descaling shortens the heat exchanger's life considerably.

Usually one of: inlet water filter clogged, flow sensor failing, gas pressure low under demand, or scale buildup choking the heat exchanger. We diagnose, then quote. Scale issues respond to descaling; the rest are parts swaps.

Yes. We are a Navien Service Specialist, but we regularly service Rinnai, Rheem, Noritz, and other major brands. Common parts for these brands ride on the truck as well.

Tankless Not Working? Call (980) 276-0199

Same-day repair Mon-Fri 8 AM-5 PM. Navien Service Specialist. Common parts on the truck.

Call (980) 276-0199

Related Services

For routine tankless maintenance and pillar-level info, see tankless water heater service. For new tankless installs, see tankless water heater installation. For tank water heater repair, see water heater repair Hickory NC. Same-day emergency? Emergency plumber Hickory NC.

Tankless repair in Hickory NC
Navien tankless repair Catawba County
Tankless service A&B Plumbing

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