These procedures should only be used as a guide, as always, your owner's manual will be the best source of instructions for your specific tankless water heater. Regular use helps maintain a healthy tankless water heater. Turn off the electrical circuit for the water heater at the breaker panel. ECOSMART ECO 36 is a 36-kilowatt tankless ECOSMART ECO 36 is a 36-kilowatt tankless electric water heater ideal for providing hot water for apartments, condominiums, townhomes and other whole home applications. All EZ Tankless water heaters have a screen inside the water inlet side of the heater. Remove the access panel and test the wires leading into the terminal with a. Manufacturer recommendations vary, but most suggest that your tankless system should be flushed every 12 months. Tankless water heaters are not immune to problems. Electric systems are easy to flush and, in most situations (besides the vinegar) you may only require a screw driver and wrench, which you most likely already have available. Learn how to protect your tankless from hard water. Close the cold water service port and remove the attached hose Open the cold water shut-off valve to flush out any remaining vinegar through the second hose into your bucket for about ten minutes. Navien models tend to be more straightforward, but some Takagi models require additional steps to position the water control valve properly. Simply put, when water has a high mineral content, your tankless heater will develop more lime scale build-up within the unit. Besides lowering the efficiency of the heater, this will also negatively impact the service life of the heat exchanger and ultimately the tankless water heater. The flush kit connects easily to the tankless service valves. Lot cheaper than calling a plumber to flush. The key focus of EcoSmart is the area of the water heater. Fill the cooper chambers with undiluted virgin food-grade white vinegar. Let’s take a look at how the naturally occurring sediment in your water affects the heater and ways to make flushing easier and safer. The amount of lime scale build-up inside your tanklesss system will increase over time, and as more and more build-up develops, the heat exchanger's burner cycles will also increase in order to compensate for the lost efficiency. Allow … The first step is you need to turn off the gas line valve. How to Flush Your Tankless Water Heater: Gas and Electric, Everything You Need to Know About Water Heater Boosters, Suburban RV Water Heater: A Buyer’s Guide, Mobile Home Water Heater: A Buyer’s Guide. If your local water’s hardness exceeds 8 grains per gallon, you may need to install a water filter prior to installing the water heater. (similar to those used on intake water lines of washing machines) This screen is the last line of defense to keep particles from entering the water flow sensor housing and inhibiting the use of the heater. It's safe, environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and very effective. These kits generally include everything you need, such as a pump, bucket, descaler, and hoses. Open the Hot Water Shut-off Valve. Turn OFF the electrical power to the tankless unit at the breaker. Open the cold water shut-off valve to flush out any remaining vinegar through the second hose into your bucket for about ten minutes. Shut off the power supply. Open the cold water shut-off valve and let the tank fill. Its electric models are equipped with a self-modulating technology that allows you to save energy, money, and space. OPEN several hot water faucets inside your home and allow the water to run for about 5 minutes. Inspect the heating elements. If you want to maintain the top performance, efficient heating and long life of your tankless unit, simple cleaning and flushing out the limescale and sediment buildup is the way to go. Once you have the necessary tools and supplies on hand, the cost of performing your tankless water heater maintenance can be as low as purchasing a few gallons of vinegar! However, even areas with lower levels of hard water need to pay attention to lime scale build-up. 2. Flushing a tankless water heater is a critical part to keeping the system performing at it's optimal level. Sediment. Pressure-relief valves are an essential component of tankless water heaters. Problems with Tankless Water Heater Temperature. Just set the valve perpendicular to the gas … However, the hardness of your water plays a part in this, and you may find it better to flush two to three times per year if your home’s water is especially poor quality. It'll be money well spent and you'll have the peace of mind that you'll know exactly how to perform the tasks in the future. Size and shape can influence your specific tankless water heater model choice. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. If not flushed properly, the tankless unit could be damaged and require service/repair. Place your submersible pump into a five-gallon bucket. Anyone who’s owned a regular water will be familiar with the need to flush the tank occasionally as a means of eliminating sediment. 4-gallons of virgin, food grade white vinegar. Using a screwdriver, secure the wires to the top of the heating elements. Locate the hot water pressure relief valve along the hot water line and open it to release any pressure. Flush the filters at a sink to remove any trapped sediment. Most manufacturers recommend annual flushing, but it should be noted that ultimately, the flushing frequency needs to be determined by the hardness of your water. There will be both a cold water service port and hot water service port. Also commonly referred to as an on-demand water heater, the tankless water heater may need maintenance every six months if your water heater is set to a high temperature or if you have hard water. It can provide between 3.6 and 8.7 gallons-per-minute depending on the inlet water … In general, electric tankless water heaters have a higher energy efficiency; in the case of EcoSmart the energy efficiency is 99.8%. Below, we've highlighted what size water heater you would need in our example of 6.5 GPM at a 63° F temperature rise. Open the purge port valves by twisting them perpendicularly to the position of the cold and hot valves. One important note, these are only for gas tankless water heaters. This is because gas tankless models operate by burning gas, which is harder to control than electricity. The heat exchanger is especially sensitive to scale. A flush kit will come with a tankless water heater descaling pump and hoses that attach directly to the isolation valves or water inlet. Allow the vinegar to circulate through the heater for a minimum of one hour (longer if the pump runs at less than four gallons per minute). Use a wrench to loosen the hexagon brass top of the heating element. Store the heating elements in the cooper chambers of the heater so that they can also be cleaned. 4. The amount of time recommended to circulate the vinegar varies between manufacturers, but as a general rule of thumb, longer is better. Often, this issue is … Do Tankless Water Heaters Need Maintenance? Flush the cold water inlet filter with tap water. Flushing will require a big bucket to put the pump in, as there’s no simple drainage option as there is with the average tank model, hence the need for a submersible model pump. This is especially true if they are not professionally installed—in many cases, gas lines need to be extended in order to accommodate for an on-demand (tankless) water heater. Tankless heaters are no exception. Some manufacturers also use a hot water in-line filter. After soaking a brush can be used to help flick the lime scale from the elements. Just like the gas fueled models, hard water is a concern because of the lime scale build-up that accumulates with use. Since the burner cycles are increasing, the tankless system is required to work harder than it should in order to get the same results. Installing the ports will require a larger investment upfront, but overall, the task will be simpler since you'll no longer need to remove the electric heat elements. Depending upon the manufacturer and whether you had a technician do the installation, your tankless heater may or may not have an isolation valve installed. Ignition Failure. Tankless systems use up to 30 to 50% less energy than tank units because they eliminate the need to hold water … For your convenience, here are specific guides for each brand: No matter which brand of gas tankless water heater you have, there are a few phases in flushing that must be done in order, but are all fairly simple to follow. That’s why it’s important to know first why and when it’s needed, then how to flush a tankless water heater, be it gas or electric. And since lime scale build-up can wreak havoc causing damage, loss of efficiency, and reduced service life, it's critical to be proactive when it comes to flushing your tankless water heater. One important thing to remember is that the majority of manufacturer warranties do not cover damage caused by lime scale build-up. Fill the 5-gallon bucket containing the submersible pump with 4-gallons of virgin, food grade, white vinegar. Once connected you can run a solution of water and vinegar to clean the heat exchanger of any scale deposits. Open your faucets to allow any water to drain from the heater. Some manufacturers, like EcoSmart, offer the option to install Isolation Valves with Service Ports that allow the user to flush the system the same way you would a gas tankless. Remove the cover and double check that no electricity is reaching the unit by using a. Learn how to protect your tankless from hard water. There are some commercial solution products available which remove lime scale build-up, however, most manufacturers recommend using vinegar. If the tankless water heater is gas, then shut off the gas supply. Remove the screws which secure the wires to the heating elements. Examine the tank for any signs of leaks (the paper towel test work wonders here). This breaks down the scale and flushes out the sediment. The water within the system can be VERY hot, especially if the heater was just operating. Tankless water heaters have high-powered burners that can heat water very quickly as it runs through the heat exchanger. This prevents cold water from flowing into the water heater and hot water from coming out during the cleaning process. Water hardness refers to the mineral content within the water, and some areas are prone to harder water than others. Another great tool is a good flush kit. It comes with a 32-ounce bottle of FLOW-AIDE. Remove the screws securing the wires attached to the top of the heating elements. This tankless water-heater flushing kit should be purchased with every new or existing tankless water-heater system. Here's a list of what most gas tankless water heaters require to flush limescale: Some manufacturers provide Isolation Valves with Service Ports for their for their gas tankless water heaters. A tankless water heater's only line of defense from sediment is the inlet filter, which is a small mesh screen that filters the water before it enters the unit. You can see the difference once you start using it. In addition, you'll want to keep safety top-of-mind. Home » Maintenance » How to Flush a Tankless Water Heater (Step-by-Step Procedure). Drain the water from the tankless unit by opening the faucets inside your home. This will break up any scale on the elements. Tankless water heater require flushing every 6 months to a year. Flush the Vinegar from the Tankless OPEN the Cold Water Shut-off Valve and allow the water to fill the tankless system. Disconnect the electrical power going to the heater. With the proper care, a tankless water heating system can have a service life of up to 25 years and save you money every month in utility expenses. The three top brands for gas tankless models are Rinnai, Rheem, and Noritz. 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