"Ended up installing an inline filter, and it's been night and day since then."
Yeah, inline filters can really help. Had a similar headache at my parents' place—tankless heater kept clogging up from minerals, even with regular flushes. We tested the water hardness and it was pretty high, so we installed a filter too. Definitely improved things, but honestly, it didn't completely eliminate the maintenance. Still gotta flush it regularly to stay safe and keep things running smoothly. If your water's super hard, just be prepared for some extra upkeep...tankless setups aren't always as low-maintenance as advertised.
Yeah, inline filters can definitely make a noticeable difference. Had a similar issue at my old place—water heater was constantly giving us rusty water, even after flushing it out regularly. We finally bit the bullet and installed an inline filter, and it cleared things up pretty well. But like you said:
"Definitely improved things, but honestly, it didn't completely eliminate the maintenance."
That's been my experience too. Filters help a ton, but they're not magic. Still gotta keep an eye on things and flush periodically to avoid buildup. Also depends on your local water quality—ours was pretty rough, so we still had some minor issues pop up now and then. But overall, I'd say it's worth the effort if you're dealing with rust or mineral deposits regularly. Just don't expect it to be totally hands-off...nothing ever is when it comes to plumbing stuff, right?
Yeah, I went through something similar last year—old heater was rusting out, and the inline filter definitely helped. But like you mentioned, still had to flush periodically. Plumbing's never really "set and forget," but small improvements can save a lot of headaches down the line.
"Plumbing's never really 'set and forget,' but small improvements can save a lot of headaches down the line."
Yeah, that's pretty much spot-on. Had a similar deal with my water heater a couple years back—tried the inline filter route too, and it sorta helped... temporarily. Eventually got tired of flushing rusty water every few months and bit the bullet to replace it. Honestly, wish I'd done it sooner. Filters and flushes buy you time, but once rust kicks in hard, you're basically delaying the inevitable.
Yeah, filters and flushes can be hit or miss. Had a customer last year who kept trying to squeeze more life out of their heater with regular flushes. Worked okay-ish for a while, but eventually, rust won the battle. Can't fault anyone for trying to save a buck, but sometimes you're just kicking the can down the road. Replacing it isn't cheap, but the peace of mind is worth something too...
