California homeowner faces $7,000 water-heater quote and wonders whether a DIY flush could solve it

“The plumber was trying to take advantage of you. Buy your own kit. It’s super easy.”

A Los Angeles homeowner turned to Reddit after a plumber suggested replacing a 2017 Rheem tankless water heater for $7,000. Rather than accept the recommendation, the poster asked whether a do-it-yourself descaling or flush might be worth trying first.

What to know

In the discussion, the homeowner said the water in the house is “pretty hard” and that lime buildup is visible on the faucets. They also said they do not have maintenance records from the previous owner.

The homeowner said the plumber blamed poor upkeep and advised replacing the heater. The plumber also warned that descaling could damage the unit, a claim the poster questioned while weighing the expense and “a new baby on the way.”

Many commenters recommended trying maintenance before spending thousands. “Just buy a kit on Amazon and flush it yourself,” one user wrote. “YouTube has plenty of videos.”

Another commenter gave similar advice: “Do it yourself. It’s simple and takes about an hour. Plain ole vinegar works good to clean.”

More context

One user noted that lime on faucets can indicate mineral scale inside the tankless unit as well.

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That same commenter also cautioned that years of buildup can create additional problems, saying loosened deposits may “cause pieces of lime to break parts of the tankless (flow sensor, for example) or clog the heat exchanger.”

The warning was presented as standard industry caution: “The last company I worked for, if it had been four or more years since a descale, we made the customer sign a liability waiver saying we weren't responsible for any issues after descaling.”

In short, some companies treat overdue descaling as a liability concern.

What can be done?

“Flush it and move on,” one commenter suggested. “Plumber was trying to take advantage of you. Buy your own kit. It’s super easy.”

A commenter who had dealt with neglected units said some “did start leaking, but only a few out of many.”

Not everyone pushed for immediate action. As one person put it, “If you are not having an issue currently, I would probably let it ride with a plan to replace in the future.” That approach could avoid a major bill while giving the homeowner time to plan for a replacement.

More reading

Homeowners deciding whether to flush, repair, or replace a water heater often face the same questions.

• One owner asked whether regular flushing could add 15 more years after nine neglected seasons.
• In one apartment, a DIY flush sent rust through fixtures and created new plumbing problems.
• After six years without maintenance, a homeowner received a $4,500 repair quote and reconsidered replacement.
• In Seattle, a homeowner weighing annual flushes was directed toward an anode rod instead.