Shut off all the power to the water heater. What are the Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters? Shut off the power and the cold-water supply valve. However you choose to meet your home's hot water needs, you'll also want to protect the investment you've made in your water heater. In return, this prevents hot water from gushing out and probably burning your skin. You're cleaning baked on junk off the heating element more so than dirt or debris. Disconnect both the outlet and inlet pipes. Clean, Fresh Water. Seal the purge valves using the port caps- Be careful to ensure that not sealing disc is broken. Stay connected to electricity to ensure the freeze protection system will operate. Remove the tank’s lid. A Noritz tankless water heater could well be one such product. Thereafter, this will save you from problems that might arise in the future. Each purge valve has a small handle that resembles the letter “T.” Removing the caps helps in relieving any pressure build-up in the purge valves. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Every tankless water heater manufacturer recommends regular maintenance including cleaning and flushing. Each type of water heating system has its own advantages and disadvantages. What do I do if there is water leaking and steam comes out when the hot water is in use? By using our site, you agree to our. I am hoping to add this to my services. Replacing just the part is less expensive (for parts), but I replaced the whole unit because the water had leaked onto the electronics, and who knows when that would cause another failure. Therefore, ensure that the hot water valves are securely shut off first. Continue reading to learn how you can maintain your tankless water heater to ensure its optimal performance and efficiency. Well, if you’re a DIY enthusiast, flushing your tankless water heater is as easy as taking a walk in the park. However, if screwing and unscrewing things aren’t for you, you can always look for a professional. Attach a hosing line to each valve. In this case, 92% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Why Is My Shower Cold? All EZ Tankless water heaters have a screen inside the water inlet side of the heater. The red-colored label controls the movement of hot water while the third regulates water movement from the main supply to your home. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. "Very helpful. ", https://greenlivingideas.com/2015/07/08/maintenance-tips-keeping-a-tankless-water-heater-efficient/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=nQYyoe0GFag, https://www.waterheaterhub.com/do-tankless-water-heaters-need-maintenance/, http://www.eztankless.com/support/service-and-maintenance/, эксплуатировать безрезервуарный нагреватель воды, Fazer a Manutenção de um Aquecedor de Água sem Tanque, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Tankless water heaters may need additional steps to keep hot water moving through the heating system efficiently. The hosing line you purchase must be long enough to connect the water heater to the flushing bucket. Continuous use of hard water leaves mineral and lime deposits on the heating elements. Many believe that a tankless water heater needs annual maintenance, but that is a myth, according to Jason Fleming, marketing manager at Noritz America. The water valves consist of a cold water valve that may be colored blue, a hot water valve that may be colored red, and a third main valve that runs the water into your home. Over time, tankless water heater systems collect minerals that erode the inside walls of the heating chambers. Tankless water heaters allow horizontal and vertical venting (through the roof). We often recommend the installation of a tankless water heater to our customers who are looking to have a new water heater system put in, either as the first water heater for a house or as a replacement for an aging tank water heater.There are numerous advantages to using a tankless water heater, such as lower energy bills, longer equipment life, and unlimited hot water supply. A thermostat detects when the water is cooling down and trips the heater to heat the water. It also stops heated water from coming out during the cleaning process. As a result, regular maintenance of 6-24 months is necessary. This procedure is done to relieve any pressure that has built inside the valves and will prevent excess hot water from shooting out and coming into contact with your skin. Neglecting to maintain a tankless heater results in a very short life span. This prevents cold … If you install tankless water heaters at each outlet (shower/sink) instead of a centralized system for your entire house, you can save even more; between 27% and 50%. So please keep on reading below. They know exactly how to remove the buildup without damaging any part of the unit. There are three water valves which in most cases are color-labeled. These deposits might build up and clog the heating element thus reducing the efficiency of the water heater. This can be done by shutting off the main gas or turning off the circuit breaker for electrical devices. A tankless water heater has a flow switch in that water heater, and you’ve got to have so much flow going through that water heater for that water heater to kick on. If your heater didn’t ship with any hosing line, you could always grab 1 or 2 from the nearby store for a few dollars. After flushing the heat exchanger, run clean water through the system to clean any remaining sediments. Steps Start by turning off the energy source. Rewiring a house to accommodate a tankless water heater could add an additional $5,000 to the total costs. This usually involves unscrewing three to four screws. How do you maintain a tankless water heater? Luckily, Google has lots of how-to information on this section. Firstly, turn off the unit and cut the water supply. So show your water heater some love by following a routine maintenance schedule that will keep it running for its 15-year expected lifetime, and perhaps beyond. Regardless of what type of unit you’re using to supply your hot water, make sure you maintain it. Maintain a Power Source. That means performing the manufacturer's recommended preventive water heater maintenance, periodically draining the tank (or … Your heat exchanger has cracked and needs to be replaced. Furthermore, be sure to isolate the water to the heater, using the valves located on the hot- and cold-water lines. 1. Note that this doesn’t mean the water heater needs to be on — just plugged in. Draining a tankless water heater is sometimes necessary, even when a unit has built-in freeze protection. Flush the Tank. Yes, as it's important to properly maintain a tankless water heater. Gas fuelled vs. Electric tankless water heaters Compared, Preparing Your Plumbing For The Winter – 8 Essential Steps To Take, The 10 Easiest Ways To Reduce Your Power Bill (And Save Big! ), The Pros And Cons of a Tankless Water Heater, The Ultimate Guide To Lowering Your Winter Power Costs. Do I need to do this even if I have a water softener? Best Tankless Water Heaters & Brands of 2020, 5 Signs That A Tankless Water Heater Is Right For You. You can buy just that part, or replace the whole tankless heater. You need to flush your water heater’s tank yearly to prevent the build-up of mineral … Next, take off the valve caps that are located on the purge valves which are found on both of the hot and cold water valves. After flushing a Rinnai tankless water heater with white vinegar, can I store and reuse the vinegar next time? It is best to hire a professional service for the maintenance. Lastly, open all water valves and turn the power ON. Continue to run the water until it runs steadily without air escaping. If you use a gas water heater, you should also consider a hard water softener. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. There you have it; a simple and straightforward guide on how to maintain your tankless water heater. Generally, you will shut off the power and water supply to the water heater, attach a short hose to each of the isolation valves, connect a small pump to the end of the cold water hose, and then place both the end of the hot water hose and circulation pump inlet hose into a 5-gallon bucket of water. Water Capacity. If your heater didn’t ship with any hosing line, you could always grab 1 or 2 from... Open the port valves. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. Keep in mind that you should have your … Keep it clean: Keeping your tankless water heater cleaner from the outside is the most essential requirement if you want it to last longer. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b1\/Maintain-a-Tankless-Water-Heater-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Maintain-a-Tankless-Water-Heater-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b1\/Maintain-a-Tankless-Water-Heater-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1623677-v4-728px-Maintain-a-Tankless-Water-Heater-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"