Do I need to flush my tankless water heater? This is a question that comes to the minds of every tankless water heater user. Since they don’t have a storage tank, do they need flushing or cleaning? Yes, even tankless water heaters need to be flushed or cleaned annually. According to Modesto plumbers, regular flushing of the water heater is a part of regular maintenance that needs to function efficiently.
Manufacturers of tankless water heating units suggest flushing the unit annually and even more often if your home has access to the hard water supply.
Why Do You Need To Flush Your Tankless Water Heater Regularly?
Hard water or poor quality water has minerals or limescale that can clog elements of the tankless water heater unit. Sediment and mineral build-up is the reason why you need to flush the tankless unit regularly.
Over time, your water heater can build mineral or sediment deposits. If this build-up is not removed from time to time, it can clog the elements such as the heat exchanger with limescale and stop normal heating operation.
The heat exchanger can even get damaged if you don’t flush the unit routinely, resulting in costly water heater repair Modesto services.
In addition, flushing your water heater unit can help extend the lifespan of your tankless water heater.
Follow These Steps To Flush The Tankless Water Heating Unit
Supplies you need :
1. Vinegar
2. 5-gallon bucket to collect the water
3. A tankless water heater flush pump
4. Washing machine hoses
- To get started with flushing, first set its temperature to 150°F. Allow the let hot water run through the heater for about a minute.
- Turn off the power to your water heater.
- Close the shut-off valves of both hot and cold water lines. This is done to stop the water flow into the water heater. In case, your water heater has no isolation valves, you should buy some and install them yourself.
- Attach hoses to the cold and hot water ports. Make sure you have a bucket in place to collect the water. Put the submersible pump inside the bucket.
- Locate pressure relief valve on the hot water line. Open this valve so that any pressure buildup inside is released.
- Connect the cold water hose to the pump and keep the other end of the hot water hose inside the 5-gallon bucket.
- Pour vinegar into the bucket.
- Open the cold water and hot water ports.
- Turn on the pump and let the circulate in the vinegar solution for up to 1 hour. This step will wash down all the sediment and mineral build-up stuck in the copper lines.
- Turn off the pump. Close cold water port.
- Disconnect the hose and open shut off the cold water valve to remove any vinegar left.
- Take out the cold-water inlet filter and the hot water in-line filter, if your heater has one.
Clean the filters. - Turn the power on and run the water heater.
Flushing a tankless water heater for homeowners can be complex. It’s best to leave this job in the hands of professional top water heater and drain cleaning Modesto services.