I have shown hundreds of homes over the years, and if there is one thing homeowners tend to have in common, it is that we all have a list of things we mean to get around to someday.

The attic.

The dryer vent.

The HVAC service.

The irrigation system.

And apparently, the tankless water heater.

Terry and I built our home in 2022. Like many homeowners, we knew we had a tankless water heater, appreciated the endless hot water, and never gave it much thought beyond that.

Recently, we decided it was probably time to schedule a flush and maintenance service. We weren't having any problems. Nothing was leaking. The hot water worked perfectly. We simply thought it would be a good idea to take care of it before it ever became an issue.

The technician arrived, took one look at the system, and delivered a surprise.

Our tankless water heater could not be serviced because it was missing the flush kit needed to perform the maintenance.

The water heater itself was functioning normally. We had hot water. Everything appeared fine. Yet the valves needed to properly flush the system had never been installed.

Instead of performing the maintenance, the technician now has to order the parts and return.

As often happens, one simple question led to another.

How many homeowners actually maintain their tankless water heaters?

I asked on social media and received a variety of responses. Some homeowners flush their own systems. Some hire a plumber to perform the service. Others admitted they have never had theirs serviced at all. Several homeowners told me they absolutely love their tankless systems and have never experienced a problem.

What struck me most wasn't that people were neglecting maintenance. It was that many people simply had not thought much about it.

And honestly, I understand.

Most of us don't spend our evenings wondering about the condition of the equipment hidden in a garage, attic, utility closet, or crawlspace.

If it works, we assume it is fine.

Most of the time, it probably is.

The challenge is that many of the systems inside our homes do not ask for attention until they need it. By then, a small maintenance item can become a larger repair.

Tankless water heaters are designed to provide years of efficient service, but they are not completely maintenance-free. Depending on your water quality and manufacturer recommendations, periodic flushing may help remove mineral buildup and keep the system operating efficiently.

For many homeowners, the first challenge may simply be determining whether their system is equipped for maintenance.

Do you know where your tankless water heater is located?

Have you ever looked to see if it has service valves installed?

Has it ever been flushed?

Did your builder or plumber discuss a maintenance schedule with you?

I am not suggesting every homeowner needs to run out and schedule a service appointment tomorrow.

I am suggesting that it might be worth taking a look.

Our experience was a good reminder that homeownership is not just about fixing things when they break. Sometimes it is about paying attention to the systems quietly doing their jobs every day.

Most of the time, those systems ask for very little.

Sometimes they simply ask us to notice them.

And occasionally, they remind us that there is a missing part we never knew we needed.

If you have a tankless water heater, I would love to hear your experience. Have you had yours serviced? Do you do it yourself? Or are you like many homeowners who have not given it much thought until now?

Bonnie Wicks, licensed as Bonnie Jean Wicks Bertalot, is an Associate Broker with Carolina One Real Estate serving Mount Pleasant, Charleston, and surrounding Lowcountry communities.