has anyone had to have theirs replaced? We are going on 13 years in our house, and its starting to give lower pressure in our master bathroom (I have already replaced the mixing valve cartridge as one troubleshooting item), and we now have to put the water to full hot for a hot shower (when historically this would make it uncomfortably hot).

I have flushed the water heater with descaling a few times over the last few years also as a troubleshooting effort.

my only other thought is that maybe there is a blockage in the shower bar i added a few years ago, but ive taken the nozzles off and checked to see if anything is fouled or a strainer is blocked, but haven't found anything.

All that being said, I have to think its a pretty straightforward replacement. Looking at price estimates of 3-5k to replace professionally, im pretty handy and could do it myself. Ive replaced traditional ones before with no issue.

edit to add: i have also checked the inlet filter on the heater.

$3-$5k to replace one that's already all plumbed up.. how much is the unit itself?

If that's <$750 or so premium vs DIY, it maybe worth to hire it out. but it should be pretty straightforward.. just disconnecting the gas, water and vents and reconnecting to new one??

62strat said:

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$3-$5k to replace one that's already all plumbed up.. how much is the unit itself?

If that's <$750 or so premium vs DIY, it maybe worth to hire it out. but it should be pretty straightforward.. just disconnecting the gas, water and vents and reconnecting to new one??

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Yeah, especially if it's being replaced with the same or similar model, it should be fairly easy to swap out.

I replaced my Takagi 2 years ago with similar updated model. It wasn't too bad and saved a ton.

If only one fixture is having issues, I highly doubt it has anything to do with your water heater. Sounds like a restriction issue. Just because you remove the nozzles doesn't mean there isn't a cartridge filter where the shower bar is next to the supply line.

OP have you tried another tub in the house to see if it keeps up?
Tubs put out the highest flowrate

agreed, its is also the furthest/last consumer on the chain. Im probably going to take the whole shower bar off and replace with a normal head to see what it does.

I did do more reading and the flow sensor being dirty is a common issue. Ill need to pop the cover this weekend and see if i can locate it and clean it.

Here is my writeup on the one I got in 2022 to replace my Noritz (don't buy) with Navien (only sells to plumbers):

https://texags.com/forums/61/topics/3328749

I strongly recommend the brand. It solved all but one of the problems we've had with the Noritz since day 1 in the house.

T(h)ankless models have about a 12 year lifespan. I think our original one was put in around 2005-06 so it lasted a few years longer than average, but it was cutting out bad once it reached 10-12 years. It was only marginally problematic before that. At first, I thought the control unit had gone out and, like you, cleaned it umpteen times, but it never got better. So we spent $3.3 grand, including labor, and replaced it. Likely cost now is north of 5 grand, but it will be worth it. In the 3 years we've had it, no issues.

I wouldn't buy any other brand and since they don't sell to end users, you pretty much have to get it installed. I don't think, however, the labor is a big part of the cost.

agrams said:

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agreed, its is also the furthest/last consumer on the chain. Im probably going to take the whole shower bar off and replace with a normal head to see what it does.

I did do more reading and the flow sensor being dirty is a common issue. Ill need to pop the cover this weekend and see if i can locate it and clean it.

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Did it work