Tankless Water Heater Maintenance

SIMPLE TIPS YOU CAN DO TO MAINTAIN YOUR TANKLESS WATER HEATER

Tankless water heaters were designed so that you wouldn’t have to perform maintenance checks all that often. However, the water in Monroe County is considered to be moderately hard, which could create mineral build-up in your tankless water heater if routine maintenance checks aren’t performed. There are a few actions you should take every once in a while to help keep your unit operating in optimal condition which will help increase its longevity. Of course, the frequency of proper maintenance all depends on the model, location and application of your specific unit. However, there are a few general rules you can follow for your tankless water heater.

SIMPLE STEPS TO TAKE:

Clean the inlet water screens periodically. These screens were designed to keep particles from entering the water flow meter and causing major damage. The NPE-A series has 2 of these screens. The first screen is on the cold water inlet, while the second screen is on the recirculation inlet.

NPE-A navien.jpg

Make sure that you routinely clean the air filters. These air filters were created to help prevent any debris build-up.

Clean the condensate trap to help avoid a major flooding problem. At the bottom of your tankless water heater is the condensate trap. You will want to clean this occasionally. 

Flush the waterways in your system every 2 years or so. You should flush your heat exchangers and check that the boiler water quality is at the correct level. You can do this by using descaling agents which helps remove any sediment or mineral build-up. By not flushing your unit, the mineral build-ups could cause clogs within the device which could cause your system to overheat and impact it’s efficiency. By flushing your system, you are helping reduce clogs, reduce noise, maintain optimal heating efficiency and help make your system last longer. 
Always confirm correct operation after you perform your routine maintenance check.

WINTERIZE YOUR TANKLESS WATER HEATER

Winterizing your tankless water heater is a crucial maintenance step to take before the cold weather strikes in Rochester, NY. You don’t want any water freezing in your pipes as this can cause major damage and could create mechanical failure of your water heater unit. Luckily, the process to help avoid this from happening is pretty simple.


Winterizing your tankless water heater is when you empty all of the water from the pipes inside your water heater. There are 4 easy steps you should take to complete this:

  • Turn off the power to your tankless water heater and wait until the water inside cools down. The water inside is scalding hot, so you’ll want to wait until the water cools to a temperature that will make it manageable to work with.

  • Turn off the main water supply, which can be found in the device’s owner’s manual

  • Open the hot and cold water taps on the unit to help drain the water out of the tankless water heater as well as release major pressure that has been building inside of the unit. Then, disconnect the incoming and out-coming hoses and pipes and allow them to dry off.

  • You’ll want to remove the water filter (also known as the inlet water filter). Then turn an air compressor onto the water filter’s connection. This will help remove any remaining water in the heater.

For more information on how to prepare your tankless water heater for winter, check out our blog post on Winterizing Your Tankless Water Heater.

For a quick FAQ on tankless water heater maintenance, check out our blog post on Flushing a Tankless Water Heater.


Navien tankless graphics and images provided by Navien. Please review your unit’s style guide for further clarification and instructions on performing maintenance to your Navien tankless water heater.

SIGNS IT’S TIME TO GET A WATER HEATER UPGRADE

If your tankless is reaching that time frame, it’s good to know what signs to look for in case you need a water heater replacement. 

  • Your water heater is running out of water quickly

  • Your water heater is becoming rusty

  • You have a tankless water heater leak

  • Your water heater is rumbling and noisy

Call our team of professional Rochester plumbers to help install your new tankless water heater!