Tankless water heaters can provide you and your family with hot water on demand. Rather than storing hot water in a tank – like with traditional tank-based water heaters – they will heat the water as it’s needed. While they serve the same purpose of providing hot water, though, tankless water heaters feature different parts than tank-based water heaters.
Tankless water heaters may feature a flow sensor, for instance. If you’re thinking about switching to a tankless water heater, you might be wondering what a flow sensor does exactly.
Flow Sensors Explained
A flow sensor is a device that’s designed to detect or sense the flow of water. They are commonly found on tankless water heaters. As water flows through this device, it will send a signal to the tankless water heater.
How a Flow Sensor Works on a Tankless Water Heater
Since they don’t store heated water in a tank, tankless water heaters often require a flow sensor. The flow sensor works by telling the tankless water heater when to heat the water. It will control when the tankless water heater turns on and off.
When you turn on a hot water faucet in your home, the flow sensor will send a signal to the tankless water heater, telling it to turn on. Some tankless water heaters run on electricity, whereas others run on natural gas. Regardless, the flow sensor will tell them to turn on if there’s a demand for hot water. And when there’s no longer a demand for hot water, the flow sensor will tell them to turn off.
Signs of a Faulty Flow Sensor
Flow sensors can fail. They may accumulate hard mineral deposits that cause them to corrode, or they may simply wear out over time.
A faulty flow sensor can manifest in different ways. It may prevent the tankless water heater from turning on. Even if there’s a demand for hot water, the tankless water heater’s heating element may not activate. As a result, you’ll feel cold water coming out of the faucets – even if you’re trying to use the hot water.
Alternatively, a faulty flow sensor may result in the tankless water heater running continuously. It may wrongfully sense a constant demand for hot water. The faulty flow sensor will then send a signal to the tankless water heater that keeps it running. Tankless water heaters can sustain damage if they run continuously. Therefore, neglecting to repair or replace a faulty flow sensor may lead to more expensive water heater repairs.