People try to support their houses with all kinds of home appliances and devices. They make life more practical, safer, and much easier. Some functions can be carried out in a blink of an eye. One of them is heating water. Thus, many people buy and install a tankless water heater to get hot water on demand.
This kind of home appliance is very useful in the household. It offers a wide range of vital benefits. Among the most important ones are saving money on energy billing, saving space in the house, longevity, and so on. If you want all your home appliances to function normally and for long, you should maintain them regularly. Thus, you ought to take care of a tankless water heater by cleaning it from time to time. This informative guide explains how to do that properly and fast.
First Step
Your first step is to shut off the power supply. In case your tankless water heater uses gas, you ought to shut off the gas supply. If you use an electric analog, turn off the circuit breaker first. Compile all the supplies that may be required.
Mind that you will require special items to complete this process. You will require the next tools:
- A five-gallon bucket;
- 2 stainless steel washing machine hoses;
- A submersible pump;
- 4 gallons of white vinegar;
In case you do not have these items, you can find them in an appropriate store. They commonly come in a special kit for cleansing tankless water heaters.
Second Step
The second thing to do is to shut off three water valves. These are of different colors:
- Blue for cold water;
- Red for hot water;
- Yellow (in most cases) for the water supply of the entire house.
You should use handles or knobs. It depends on the model and manufacturer of a tankless water heater. If your device has handles, turn them so that they were not in one line with the pipe. Thus, you will turn the valves off.
Third Step
Your third more is to take off the purge port valve caps from the purge valves. They are located on hot and cold water. They have small handles. Do it steadily to relieve any possible pressure that may build up there. It helps to prevent hot water spillage.
Fourth Step
The step number 4 requires attaching the housing lines to the valves. Thus, you will direct the water into the bucket. Be extremely careful with the hot water to avoid burns. Open the purge ports to let the water out. It drains faster compared to cold water. Open it slowly to avoid accidents.
Fifth Step
Now you are to leave the hoses in place and make the bucket empty. You are to fill the bucket with 4 gallons of white vinegar. This solution is commonly used because it is non-chemical and shows great cleaning results. Do not try other cleaning solutions, which are chemicals. Otherwise, they may damage your health, as well as your water system.
After the bucket is filled, attach one end of the hoses to the submersible pump. Be sure to place it into the vinegar before you plug it in. turn on the pump and wait for about 45-90 minutes to complete the process entirely.
Sixth Step
While the pump is at work, get the faceplate out of the heater. You should also get out the air filter. You are to rinse and dry it off. Replace the faceplate for a while. After everything is done, screw it back into place.
Seventh Step
Your seventh step of cleaning a tankless water heater is to unplug the pump after the vinegar is pumped out. Remove the pump from the bucket. Get rid of the vinegar and put the bucket under your tankless water heater.
Remove the hose from the cold water and put the cap back. The next step is to open the water valve. You are to make 4-5 gallons of water run through the entire system. Afterward, close the valve, get rid of filters for water, and rinse them properly. When it is done, put them back into place.
Eighth Step
The last step to take is attaching the caps and placing all the items back in place. Turn on the cold water valve, and listen for water. Afterward, repeat the same procedure for the hot water. Finally, turn on the gas and circulation valves. If everything runs alright, plug the system back.
Is It Worth Buying a Tankless Water Heater?
Many American, European, and Asian households utilize tankless water heaters. The popularity of a tankless water heater is not without a reason. It has several great advantages that will surely suit you. Let’s review them in some greater detail.
- Good for your budget. The main difference between a tankless water heater and its analog with a tank is the absence of the tank. Accordingly, this type does not contain water inside and does not keep it heated all the time long. Accordingly, it consumes less energy and so saves up your money.
- It saves space. As it has no tank, it will not take much space in your bathroom. You may even install an outdoors model.
- It is durable. There is little chance that your tankless water heater will lead or will be damaged by water. Simply maintain it regularly and everything will be fine. The risk of an explosion is minimal.
- It works for long. The tankless water heaters will serve 10-20 years if you maintain them regularly and properly. Units with tanks work only 5-10 years.
Summing Up
As you can see, it is not that difficult to clean a tankless water heater. There are only 8 quite simple steps to follow, and you’ll be done. Repeat this procedure regularly to prevent damage to your water heater. Thus, it will serve you for 10 or even 20 years in a row!
