A tankless water heater is a modern home appliance gaining traction in the market due to its energy-efficient capabilities. This appliance can provide an immense supply of hot water on demand. With the proper installation and maintenance, tankless water heaters can provide a reliable and cost-effective way to heat your home’s water. How to flush a tankless water heater?
One of the most critical maintenance tasks is flushing the tankless water heater. This involves removing any sediment and debris that build up in the system.
Learning how to flush a tankless water heater is a straightforward process with a few basic supplies and steps. With regular flushing, you can prolong the life of your tankless water heater and ensure that it is running as efficiently as possible.
How To Flush A Tankless Water Heater: Importance Of Flushing
Tankless water heaters are more cost-effective and energy-efficient than traditional water heaters. In addition, there is less need for upkeep and less space for them to function.
Before taking any action, it is essential to comprehend the reason and timing for how to flush a tankless water heater, regardless of whether it is gas or electric.
Let’s examine how the sediment found naturally in your water can influence the heater and flushing methods that are easier and more secure.
Tankless Water Heaters & Scale Buildup
People with a traditional water heater are familiar with flushing the tank to eliminate sediment buildup. Tankless water heaters are no different and require the same flushing.
Hard water has minerals that can cause a limescale accumulation. A tankless water heater is not in danger of a blast due to the buildup, yet it can still cause some expensive issues.
Calcium deposits can easily damage the heat exchanger. The accumulation of lime inside the unit causes it to strain as it needs to work longer and more frequently to heat the water.
The longevity of this part may be drastically reduced, and your energy bills could skyrocket. Additionally, most warranties do not cover the consequences of lime accumulation.
How To Flush A Tankless Water Heater: Why You Need to Flush
Over the years, a combination of calcium and magnesium can accumulate mineral sediment in your water heater, which can detrimentally affect its effectiveness and shorten its longevity. When hard water passes through a water heater, it can leave behind mineral deposits, creating loud and unpleasant noises.
To counter this, you can flush the water heater and use a cleaning agent to remove these minerals and bring them back to their original state.
Purchasing a water heater is an expensive investment, so flush it regularly to extend the machine’s life.
How To Flush A Tankless Water Heater: How Often Should You Flush
Flush a tankless heater at least once a year to keep it operating optimally. The water quality in your home will affect how often you flush your water heater.
If the water is particularly tough on the system, it is suggested to flush it twice a year. A sediment trap or a water softener can assist with hard water, but only to some extent.
- Isolation Valves
Before I go into any details, it is essential to talk about isolation valves. These valves do precisely what their name suggests. They let you discontinue the liquid or gas flow (isolate) a section of your pipeline without turning off the entire supply.
An isolation valve is the same as a shut-off valve. Many things in the house are equipped with this type of valve to make repairs or use in an emergency.
Valves are available in numerous sizes and shapes, but at their core, they come in two distinct kinds: rotational motion (for instance, a ball or butterfly valve) and linear (e.g., glove or diaphragm valves).
The presence of an isolation valve in your tankless heater will depend on the brand you chose and if you had a specialist set it up.
If your water heater doesn’t have a flush feature, install one and hire a specialist to flush the tank. This is an essential safety measure when running a flush or conducting other maintenance.
- Utilizing Pumps & Flush Kits
A submersible pump is an excellent companion for how to flush a tankless water heater. Unlike a tank heater, you do not need to use a large amount of water to take out the sediment. So, having a high-quality pump like the 91250 from Superior Pump can save time that would otherwise be spent manually flushing.
When it comes to flushing, it’s better to use a large container due to the absence of a drainage facility, which is usually present in standard tank models. This necessitates the use of a submersible pump.
A flush kit is an excellent tool for people who own tankless heaters. It usually comes with a pump, bucket, descaler, and hoses, providing everything needed for maintenance. Although it’s not essential, owning a flush kit can be a wise investment.
My PlumbingStuff kit is my favorite because it functions excellently and is simple. It is also ecologically responsible down to the smallest piece.
How To Flush A Tankless Water Heater: DIY or Hire a Professional?
You can clean out a tankless water heater with the correct supplies and know-how. In addition, if you want to try it yourself, there are specific kits you can purchase online that have all the necessary items, such as a circulation pump, hoses, a bucket, and a cleaning agent.
Nonetheless, this is not a job where you can be careless. If you don’t have confidence in using instruments, assigning the task to a specialist is advisable. Depending on your location, you should anticipate spending between $150 to $250 for every flush.
If you only do it in a year, the expenses associated with flushing your water heater will be quite small compared to the cost of obtaining a new one. This is an excellent choice for making a smart, long-term investment.
Step By Step Guide On How To Flush A Tankless Water Heater
Here are the steps on how to flush a tankless water heater:
1. Turn Off The Isolation Valves & Gas
The initial step is to deactivate the water valves connected to your water heater – a blue valve for the cold water intake and a red valve for the hot water output. A valve will be switched off when it’s perpendicular to the pipe.
If the valve is in line with the pipe, it indicates it is in the open position. Make sure always to verify that the valves are in the closed position. You don’t have to switch off the electricity to your water heater.
2. Connect The Hoses
You could also utilize water machine hoses if you didn’t obtain a flushing unit with water hoses. Attach the hoses to the input and output valves. Both valves likely have a service port cover that must be removed before you connect them.
Attach the pipes to the valves & use a pair of pliers to ensure a watertight connection between the tube and the valve. It would be inconvenient if water started dripping while you were flushing.
3. Attach Hoses To The Circulation Pump
At this stage, you should take the circulation pump included in the water heater flushing kit & attach one end of the inlet hose. Put the pump in the bucket and ensure only the inlet hose is linked to the discharge side of the pump.
You can put the outlet hose in a container since your setup will guarantee that the cleanser passes through the structure and eliminates any magnesium and calcium.
4. Add Cleaning Agent
After establishing the system, pour the appropriate cleaning solution into the bucket. Ensure that the bucket contains a minimum of one gallon of water before starting the process.
Bonus tip: If you don’t possess any cleaning agents, you can use vinegar instead. You’ll need at least a couple of gallons, which will require a longer period to be effective.
5. Open The Valves
Turn on the water valves to allow the liquid to pass through them and then begin the pump. Let the water circulate for a minimum of 45 minutes & not more than 90 minutes.
The user manual with the cleaning product will indicate the time you should let the mixture sit, but expect to wait for at least one hour. If you are using vinegar, it is necessary to wait at least 90 minutes to 2 hours.
6. Flush Out The Cleaning Agent
After the allotted time has elapsed, switch off the pump to discontinue the circulation. Subsequently, close both valves and detach the inlet valve tube. To flush out any remaining cleaning solution or vinegar, keep the tube link to the hot water outlet valve & turn the cold water inlet valve on.
Allow the water to flow for 5-10 minutes, then turn off the service port & the cold water inlet valve again. Lastly, disconnect the hose. This will force the water to circulate through the entire system, and all the contents will be drained out through the hose connected to the hot water side.
7. Reconnect Everything
After the tankless water heater has been cleared out, all components must be returned to their original places. First, replace the service port caps, then activate both the water valves and the gas valve.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) On How To Flush A Tankless Water Heater
1. Can I flush my tankless water heater myself?
Keep the hose fix to the hot water outlet and open the cold water inlet valve. This will send water up the system and clear out all the contents through the hose on the hot water side. Allow the water to run for 5 to 10 minutes, then close the service port & the cold water inlet valve once more.
2. What should I use to flush my tankless water heater?
You should utilize 4 gallons (15.1 liters) of undiluted white vinegar to clean out the tankless water heater. Remember not to use chemical solutions of any kind.
3. How often should you flush a tankless water heater?
Tankless water heaters need to be flush every 1- 2 years.
4. Do all tankless water heaters need to be flushed?
Tankless water heaters must be flushed at least once a year, similar to tank units. Homeowners with hard water should think about flushing and maintaining their unit more often, such as every half a year or three-quarters of a year, due to the high concentrations of calcium and magnesium characteristic of hard water sources.
Conclusion: How To Flush A Tankless Water Heater
Learning how to flush a tankless water heater is a straightforward process, which can be done with a few basic supplies and steps. With regular flushing, you can prolong the life of your tankless water heater and ensure that it is running as efficiently as possible.
Over the years, a combination of calcium and magnesium can accumulate mineral sediment in your water heater, which can detrimentally affect its effectiveness and shorten its longevity.
When hard water passes through a water heater, it can leave behind mineral deposits, creating loud and unpleasant noises.
To counter this, you can flush the water heater and use a cleaning agent to help remove these minerals and bring them back to their original state.
The water quality in your home will affect how often you flush your water heater. If the water is particularly tough on the system, it is suggested to flush it twice a year. A sediment trap or a water softener can assist with hard water, but only to some extent.
I hope this article on how to flush a tankless water heater sounds helpful!
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