Tankless Water Heater Installation & Repair in Des Plaines and Chicagoland

Navien tankless water heater installation

A tankless water heater heats water on demand instead of holding it in a tank, so it takes up far less space and does not run out during back-to-back showers. That only holds true when the unit is installed correctly: the gas supply has to carry the burner's demand, the venting has to match the manufacturer's requirements, the condensate has to be handled, and the unit has to be sized for the fixtures that may run at once.

We handle the full installation — load and flow-rate sizing, gas line evaluation and upsizing where needed, venting, condensate, isolation valves for future maintenance, and gas and water connections. Isolation (service) valves matter more than most homeowners expect, because they are what makes routine descaling a straightforward visit rather than a partial teardown.

We are certified for Navien tankless water heater installation, service and maintenance, and we also work on other major tankless brands already installed in Chicagoland homes and buildings.

Tankless water heater repair and service

Tankless units report most problems as an error code on the front panel, which is a useful starting point but not a diagnosis. Common causes behind those codes include scale on the heat exchanger, a blocked or improperly terminated vent, a dirty inlet filter or flow sensor, ignition and flame-sensing faults, low gas pressure and cold-weather condensate issues.

Typical symptoms we are called for: hot water that turns cold mid-shower, water that swings between hot and lukewarm, the unit locking out and needing a reset, reduced flow at the taps, or no ignition at all. We diagnose the actual cause, quote the repair before starting, and explain when the unit is worth repairing and when it is not.

Maintenance and descaling in hard water

Chicagoland water is hard, and hard water is the main enemy of a tankless heat exchanger. Scale narrows the passages inside the exchanger, forces the burner to work harder for the same output and eventually triggers error codes and shortened equipment life. Descaling — flushing the exchanger with a circulating solution through the isolation valves — is the maintenance that keeps a tankless unit performing the way it did when it was new.

A yearly descale and service visit is a reasonable interval for most homes here, and heavy-use or commercial units may want it more often. We also clean the inlet water filter, check the burner and combustion, inspect venting and condensate, and confirm the unit's settings and error history. Manufacturers generally tie warranty coverage to documented maintenance, so keeping the service on a schedule protects the equipment two ways.

Replacing a tank water heater with tankless

Switching from a conventional tank to a tankless unit is a good move for some houses and the wrong move for others. It suits households that run out of hot water, want the floor space back in a small mechanical room, or are already opening up walls during a remodel. It is a harder case where the existing gas line is undersized, venting would be difficult to run, or hot water use is modest enough that a well-sized tank is the better value.

When a tankless replacement is the right answer, we handle the removal of the old tank, gas and venting work, mounting, and commissioning. When it is not, we say so and quote the tank option instead. You get both numbers and the reasoning behind them before anything is ordered.

Commercial and multi-unit tankless systems

Restaurants, salons, offices, retail spaces and multi-unit residential buildings often run tankless units in cascade so capacity matches real demand and a single failure does not shut down hot water entirely. We install, service and maintain these systems and can put maintenance on a documented schedule around your operating hours.

Not sure which system you need? Ask for a consultation

If you are planning a remodel, an addition, a new build or a full equipment replacement, it is worth reviewing hot water alongside heating and cooling rather than in isolation. Our consulting service looks at equipment condition, sizing, venting and gas capacity, and where efficiency improvements are realistic for your property and budget.

Book a plumbing and HVAC consultation or see everything covered on our plumbing and water heater services page.