Failed heater system

[wafflewasher]

The car wash we got recently at the shop already gave us our first big headache, the heater system failed within three months. It's a tankless setup, and I tried fixing it with a new ignition part, but sometimes it fires up, other times nothing. As a new owner this kind of expense right out of the gate is pretty overwhelming, and I don't want to throw money at the wrong fix. For those with more experience, what's the best way to approach this?

 

[Okjokey]

The car wash we got recently at the shop already gave us our first big headache, the heater system failed within three months. It's a tankless setup, and I tried fixing it with a new ignition part, but sometimes it fires up, other times nothing. As a new owner this kind of expense right out of the gate is pretty overwhelming, and I don't want to throw money at the wrong fix. For those with more experience, what's the best way to approach this?

An intermittent heater is a common yet frustrating issue that often arises in car wash ownership. Since you already replaced the ignition part, the next component to examine is the flame sensor rod. If that rod is dirty with carbon buildup, it cannot properly detect a flame and will shut the system down as a safety measure, which explains the intermittent firing. You should also verify you have consistent water flow through the unit and that your incoming gas pressure is correct and steady. What's the specific make and model of your tankless unit and have you had a chance to inspect the flame sensor yet? Working through a few of these basic checks is a good way to approach it before spending money on a service call.