Plumbing · Greater Richmond, Virginia
Tankless Water Heater Flush
Hard-water minerals slowly build up inside a tankless heat exchanger, choking flow rate and shortening the unit's life. A flush dissolves that buildup. We charge a flat $250 for the service, and we'd rather give you an honest answer on how often you actually need it than sell you annual visits.
How often, honestly
How often do you actually need this?
Manufacturers say annual, full stop. That’s the safest answer, and the most profitable one for us to sell. What’s actually right for your home depends on your water, how much hot water you use, and how much warranty risk you’re willing to carry.
Flush annually
What the manufacturer prescribes, and what keeps the 15-year heat exchanger warranty airtight. This is the right cadence if your water is genuinely hard, you run a lot of hot water, or you want to eliminate warranty risk entirely. It's also the most expensive path over the life of the unit, so make sure that warranty certainty is worth the recurring cost to you.
Flush every 2–3 years
For a lot of Richmond homes, this cadence catches scale before it actually damages the heat exchanger, at roughly a third the cost of annual service. The trade-off is warranty risk: if the unit fails with visible scale buildup, the manufacturer has grounds to deny the claim, and we can't control how they handle that. But this is dramatically better than skipping flushes entirely.
Flush never
It's possible the unit runs fine for years without being flushed, but if it fails with visible scale buildup, you're well outside what the manufacturer will honor and a replacement runs several thousand dollars.
What it costs
Flat $250 for a standalone flush.
If we’re already coming out for other plumbing work, let us know about your water heater when you schedule. We’ll add the flush to the same trip for less. You pay for one service call, not two.
The short version: we’re happy to come every year. We’re equally happy to come every three years. Pick whichever one fits your home and your tolerance for warranty risk.
What’s included
The work, in plain terms.
Here’s what a tankless water heater flush visit actually involves, step by step.
- Isolate the unit, circulate descaling solution through the heat exchanger, and flush it clean
- Clean the inlet filter and inspect fittings for leaks
- Verify gas pressure, combustion, and outlet temperature
- Document the service date so you (and your warranty) know when the next one's due
Why call us
No commission means no incentive to oversell.
Our technicians are on salary. They’re paid the same whether they recommend a small fix or a full replacement, so the scope of work you get quoted is the scope of work the job actually needs.
Pricing is always up front, before work starts and again before scope changes mid-job. No running tabs, no surprise bills.