Maintenance Tips: Keeping a Tankless Water Heater Efficient

To make the most out of your tankless water heater, you have to use it effectively. And that’s not hard to do. You just require a few tweaks here and there. Most importantly you have to understand how the entire heating system works to know what to do, where.

We’ve already stated in other posts that your water heaters system will accumulate deposits as you continue using it. While this is “normal,” it is essential to note that the accumulation of minerals eventually erodes the walls inside the heater’s chamber, further compromising the unit’s capability. It is, for this reason, we insist that you flush your tank at least once every year to get rid of the mineral deposits. In fact, most manufacturers recommend that you clean the tank every six months.

That said, you have to get well acquainted with the basics of cleaning the tank to avoid calling a plumber every time you need to flush it which, by extension helps save you money. The tips below will come in handy if you want to keep the efficiency of your tankless water heater at its peak.

Turn of the Power, Always

Make sure that you switch off the power source every time you need to clean your heater’s tank. In essence, you are breaking the circuit to allow you to dismantle the heater. Switch off the gas supply if you are using a gas-powered model such as the Rheem RTG-64DVLN Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater.

Turn off the Valves

A standard tankless water heater has three valves connected to the tank. One has a blue color while the other is red. The first valve is for cold water supply while the other is for hot water. And then is the third one that could be any color. This is the one that supplies water to the house. The idea is to ensure that there is no water running through your water heater as you clean it.

Detach the Purge Pot Valve

Each of the three valves has an additional purge valve on it. Remove it carefully to release any pressure that could be inside your tank. The purge valves have a small hand with a letter T imprint. We insist that you double check the hot water purge valve to make sure that you’ve turned it off. You want to prevent hot water from dripping out of the tank and possibly hurt your skin.

Attach the Hose Lines to the Valves

Your tankless water heater comes with supplying hose lines meant to flash the tank. Connect the lines to the three valves. In case your heater doesn’t have a supply line, you can always purchase it from a trusted vendor. We recommend that you read the user manual to make sure that you get the connection correct the first time. You can also call the manufacturer if need be. Now that you’ve set everything, it is time to open the purge.

Bonus Tip – Choose a Mild Cleaning Agent

For starters, you can wash away the mineral deposits in your tank with regular soap and water. Even then, you must choose a mild cleaning agent. We recommend that you use up to 25 gallons of undiluted white vinegar or water tank solutions. Avoid harsh chemicals as these will damage the heater and cause it to malfunction. Remember, you will be using the heater for bathroom and kitchen, so the last thing that you want is to contaminate the water.

In Conclusion

That’s pretty much all it takes to maintain the efficiency of your tankless water heater. Again, we insist that you read your model’s owner’s guide before flushing, especially if you are doing it for the first time. Make sure that you follow the instruction correctly. Read about draining too. Typically, it takes about 45 minutes to complete the entire process. Close the purge ports after flushing. Also, detach the hosing line from the water valves.

Turn on the hot water tap to allow air to pass through the pipeline. Let the water run for two to three minutes for a steady flow. Don’t forget the day you’ve cleaned your water heater to ensure that you don’t miss the next scheduled flushing date.