What Happens When You Don’t Service a Gas Heater?
Rinnai gas heaters are one of the most popular types of gas heaters on the market. They are known for their energy efficiency and durability. However, like all appliances, Rinnai gas heaters need to be serviced regularly to keep them running at their best. What happens if you don’t service your gas heater (regardless of brand)? Let’s find out.
The first thing that happens is that the efficiency of the heater starts to decline. This is because the burner and other components start to get dirty and clogged up with debris. As a result, the heater must work harder to produce the same amount of heat, which uses more energy and increases your utility bills.
Over many months, this situation keeps getting worse and your gas heater must keep working harder. As you can imagine, this can cause quite the damage. Long story short, you’ll need to replace your gas heater or pay for repairs much sooner than you would have done with some simple maintenance.
Not servicing your gas heater can also lead to safety issues. When the burner and other components get dirty, they can start to produce carbon monoxide; this is a poisonous gas that you can’t smell or see, but it can cause serious health problems, including death.
Common side effects of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. If you start to experience any of these symptoms, get out of the house immediately and call a gas technician.
So, do Rinnai gas heaters need servicing? The answer is yes. Service a Rinnai gas heater to prolong its life, save money by avoiding problems, and keep your family safe. Although it might initially seem like a task that can slip down the to-do list, maintenance of your gas heater is critical.
Gas Heating Issues
What does a service achieve? Well, a trained professional will check the following:
- Burner operation
- Flue gases
- Ventilation
- Gas pressure
- Electrical connections
- Thermostat calibration
Rinnai recommends that you get your gas heater serviced by a licensed technician every two years. If you live in an area with high pollution, you might need to service it more frequently.
One of the reasons why servicing is so valuable is that the professionals could pick up on problems before they have a chance to deteriorate. Not only does this keep the gas heater functioning but the cost of repairs will likely be smaller compared to a large repair. Just some potential problems that can occur with your gas heater include:
- The pilot light going out
- Yellow or orange flames instead of blue ones
- An increase in your utility bills
- Strange noises coming from the heater
- Water pooling around the base of the heater.
All of these are problems that a servicing professional would be able to diagnose and (potentially) fix. As well as making your gas heater more efficient, this could also save you money in the long run. So, if you’re wondering whether you should get your gas heater serviced, the answer is a resounding yes.
What maintenance can you do yourself between professional services? You should always make sure that the area around your gas heater is clear and free of debris. You should also check the pilot light regularly to ensure that it’s still burning. Other than that, it’s always best to leave servicing and maintenance to the professionals.
If you’re looking for a reliable and experienced team to service your gas heater, look for somebody with the right qualifications, experience, equipment, resources, and passion!