Tankless Water heater maintenance

Warning! Disclaimer! The content of this blog is for informational purposes only.  Consult your owners manual for proper care and maintenance of your equipment.  

Annual care of your tankless water heater can be simple, fun, and rewarding.  For just a few dollars worth of a common food item you can keep the inside of your tankless water heater clean and scale free.  

Over time scale buildup and damage your water heater, but there is a simple and relatively safe way to prevent premature replacement of your tankless water heater.

With just common vinegar from the grocery store you and an apparatus you can make your self, you can keep your tankless water heater in near new internal condition.  

You will need a few things before you get started, but before we get into all that safety first.  Be sure you can safely get to your tankless water heater.  You will need a clear path and a comfortable working area.  If your water heater is in the attic be mindful of the temperature of the attic.  An attic can reach very high temperatures that are not safe for you to remain in for long periods of time.  

Once you have determined that the tankless water heater is in a safe place you will need to gather some supplies.  

1. Safety goggles and rubber gloves
2. Three gallons of distilled white vinegar 
3. A clean, unused five gallon plastic bucket
4. A new set of washing machine hoses (I use the red and blue ones, the look good)
5. A submersible electric water pump.  One that will connect to a standard garden hose.

 I have a dedicated pump, bucket and hoses that I use only for the purpose of cleaning my tankless water heaters.  The entire kit will fit nicely in the bucket (labeled “Water Heater Kit” and I put the bucket away)

Caution! Do not use a pump that was used in flood water.  It is contaminated!  

The first thing you want to do is kill the power to the water heater and shut off the gas.  

Most of the time this can be done at the water heater.  Simply unplug it, and turn off the gas valve.  If you can’t unplug it then use the beaker panel to turn it off.

Set up the apparatus: Put on your safety equipment!

1. Shut off the cold water supply at the water heater and relive the presser by burping the TPRV* (temperature pressure relief valve) 
   1. If the valve gets stuck open you may need to replace it.  They are usually not very expensive and should be changed out if they do not work.  If you do not feel comfortable changing it hire a professional to change it for you.
2. Remove and clean the filter screen and reinstall it.  Usually located just before the supply enters the water heater above the shut off valve.  Perhaps a plastic cap looking thing
3. Remove the cold water cap and connect one of the hoses, connect the other end of the hose to the ejection side of the pump.  
   1. Open the 1/4 turn valve.
4. Remove the hot water side cap and connect the other hose. Place the other end of the hose in the bucket.  
   1. Caution! It may be necessary to secure the hose so that it stays in the bucket while the pump is running.  
   2. Open the 1/4 turn valve
5. With the pump in the bucket and ejection side of the pump connected to the cold water side of the heater and the hot water hose returning into the bucket:
   1. Fill the bucket with the three gallons of vinegar, 
      1. both hose connected,
      2. both 1/4 turn valves open
      3. cold water supply off
      4. water heater off, discounted and the gas off
      5. your ready to begin
6. Plug in the pump and check for leaks and flow
   1. Vinegar should be flowing from the hot water side hose
7. Run for 10-20 minutes then stop.
8. Turn off the 1/4 turn valves
9. Disconnect the hoses, replace the caps
10. Remove the filter screen and check that it is still clean and re-install
11. Turn the cold water supply back on
12. Check the TPRV and make sure it is not dripping.
13. Energies your water heater,
    1. (plug it in, turn on the gas, turn on the electrical supply)
14. Open hot water in a bathtub (if this is connected to the heater, The tub fill does not have a screen that will fill up with loss debre) and let run for five minutes.  
    1. Run the water heater for five minutes 
    2. You’re done.