How To Flush Your Tankless Water Heater
A tankless water heater is a valuable investment from which you and your family want maximum returns. Tankless water heaters, unlike traditional ones, are cheaper and more efficient to run. They also do not take up all the space in your house.
Learning how to flush yours is the first step towards getting the most out of it while saving on energy. However, it would be best if you also learned when to flush it and the tools required to make the process seamless, safe, and effective.
Reasons Why You Should Flush Your Tankless Water Heater
Traditional heaters often get flushed to eliminate sediments from the water supply. It would help if you did the same for your tankless heater to reduce the risks of blockages and inefficiency. Water also consists of salts like calcium and magnesium sulfate, which can cause scale buildup. Even though a tankless heater’s explosion risks are small, this scale forms an insulating layer that causes poor heat exchanger efficiency. In addition to higher power bills, scale reduces the heater’s lifespan. Moreover, most warranties do not cover damage due to scale buildup.
How Often Should You Flush Your Tankless Water Heater?
Aim to flush your water heater at least once or twice in a year to boost efficiency and durability. If the water in your home is of poor quality, flush your water heater twice or thrice annually. You can also add a sediment trap and softener to reduce the water’s impact.
Tools Required When Flushing A Tankless Water Heater
You will need a submersible pump for flushing. Since you will not have to remove massive amounts of water to remove the sediments like a tank heater, the pump will save you time. You will also require a large bucket(5 gallons). You can also consider a flushing kit with all the items needed: a submersible pump, bucket, hoses, and a descaler. This once-in-a-lifetime investment should make home water heater plumbing easier and more effective.
Steps To Effectively Flash A Tankless Gas Water Heater
Preparation
1. Disconnect the heater’s power
2. Detach the access panel and use a non-contact voltage tester to be sure that no more power is flowing to the main terminal
3. Shut off the gas valve
4. Find and close both the hot and cold shutoff valves so that no water enters the heater as you flush it
5. Find the hot water pressure release valve on the hot water line and open it to release residual water. Do this safely, as the water will be hot.
6. Join hoses to the cold water service port as well as the hot water service port.
7. Put your submersible pump in the bucket listed earlier, connect the cold water service port hose to the pump, and ensure that you free the end of the hot water service port hose into the bucket
8. Pour four gallons of pure food-grade white vinegar in the the bucket
Flushing
1. Open both the cold and hot water service ports and turn the pump on
2. Allow the vinegar to circulate in the heater for at least one hour. Allow it to go longer if your pump ruins less than four gallons per minute. Vinegar should remove the sediment and break down the dirt buildup.
3. After vinegar circulation, turn the pump off and discard the vinegar
4. Turn off the cold water service port and detach the attached hose, then the cold water shutoff valve to remove any residual vinegar from the heater system in the basin or bucket for about ten minutes.
5. Close the cold water shutoff valve
6. Allow the the water to finish draining, remove the hose attached to the hot water service port, then remove its hose.
7. Detach the cold water inlet filter and the hot water filter, then flush them in a sink to remove the materials they have collected over time
Cleanup
1. Return respective filters securely, then open the hot and cold water shutoff valves
2. Reattach the access panel
3. Open the gas shutoff valve
4. Reconnect the electrical supply
Flushing An Electric Tankless Water Heater
Preperation
1. Shut off the power supply at the main circuit breaker
2. Close the cold water shutoff valve
3. Open the faucets so that any water within the unit drains
4. Close the hot water shutoff valve
5. Remove the access panel and use a non-contact voltage tester to ensure that there is no power flowing to the terminal
6. Detach the wires from the heating element, then loosen the hexagonal brass top of the heating element counter-clockwise to remove it from the unit. Here, consider examining the element for any signs of damage. If you spot any cracks, replace the element immediately for your safety.
7. Place the heating element in the heater’s cooper chamber to get cleaned.
Flushing
1. Fill up the heater’s cooper chambers with undiluted food-grade white vinegar and let it sit there for two hours. The vinegar will break down the scale on the parts inside the chamber.
2. Drain the vinegar and discard it
3. Reattach the heating element, then reconnect the wiring to the element
4. Open the cold water shutoff valve, then open the hot water shutoff valve
5. Turn off some hot water faucets and let the water run for about five minutes to remove all vinegar traces and clear any air pockets from the lines
Cleanup
1. Turn off the hot water faucets
2. Close the cold water shutoff valve
3. Remove the cold water inlet filter and clean it at a sink to remove debris trapped over time
4. Return the filter
5. Close the access panel and turn the power back on at the circuit breaker
Conclusion
The process of flushing your water heater, be it gas or electric, is straightforward and should not take days. However, if you need more technical advice or water heater servicing, King Heating is at your service and will ensure your water heater work its best.