According to the EPA, tankless water heaters are up to 34% more efficient than conventional tank water heaters. That means you can save a ton of money on your electricity bill by installing one of these devices.
That makes them a popular option in these times of cost-savings and environmental awareness. Yet, any water heater needs ongoing care to ensure a steady supply of hot showers.
Keep your tankless water heater up and running with these preventive maintenance tips.
1. Cleaning Tankless Water Heaters
Most manufacturers recommend flushing your on-demand water heater at least once a year. It’s a good idea to do this more frequently if you live in an area with hard water though.
If you’re unsure about your water quality, speak to a local plumber about how often to flush your water heater, or ask your municipality about water quality.
It’s easy to clean the outside of your water heater is a simple task using a soft cloth and a non-abrasive cleaner. This will banish dust and prevent rust from forming on the unit.
2. Routine Maintenance Tips
While cleaning your water heater, it pays to pay attention to the following.
Inspect the pipes for cracks or splits. In very cold climates your water heater pipes could freeze, so keep tabs on them in winter.
Test the pressure relief valve, if you’re not sure where to find it, ask a plumber or consult the manual that came with your water heater.
Checking your water heater should form part of regular home maintenance, and needn’t take more than a few minutes each time.
3. Descaling Your Water Heater
Tankless water heaters rarely need repairs, but all water heaters accumulate limescale over time. Tank models can explode if you don’t get rid of this build-up.
Fortunately, your tankless water heater won’t explode, but it will lose efficiency unless you descale it regularly.
These are the basic steps for descaling your tankless water heater:
- Disconnect the electricity going to your heater
- Shut off the gas isolation valve
- Close the cold and hot water shut off valves
- Open the pressure relief valve to release any pressure
- Connect the hoses of the flush kit to the hot and cold water service ports
- Place the submersible pump into a bucket
- Place one end of the hot water hose in the bucket
- Connect the cold water hose to the pump
- Pour the descaling liquid into the bucket
- Open the cold and hot water ports and turn on the pump
- Leave the descaling solution to circulate for about an hour
You can also use four gallons of vinegar in place of a commercial descaler. When you’re done, turn off the pump and throw away the vinegar.
Keeping the Heat on for Less
These maintenance tips for tankless water heaters are just some ways you can reduce your home’s running costs and increase efficiency. There are many other steps you can take to keep bills down and results high.
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