Winterizing Your Tankless Water Heater
How To Prepare Your Home for the Cold and Snow!
Introduction
It’s winter time in Rochester NY, which means temperatures will drop quickly. We all know it gets freezing cold and we can prepare ourselves by getting all of our warm, cozy clothes ready and stockpiling blankets. But do you know what this means for your plumbing system? Many times we forget that we need to not only prepare ourselves for winter, but we also need to prepare our homes. Pipes can freeze and crack, which would lead to not getting all of that hot water from your hot water heater to your shower. Especially when it’s this cold, your local plumbers at Pride Plumbing want to make sure your hot water is getting through to your faucets. The key to making this happen is winterizing your tankless water heater, which is why we’re going to explain what winterizing your tankless water heater is, why it’s important and how to do it.
What is Winterization? (H3)
Winterization basically means getting your water heater ready for the cold weather. Tankless winterization is removing and draining the entire unit and here's why you should do this.
Within your hot water heater, there are pipes that run vertically, and water can get trapped inside. If the water freezes, it could cause damage to parts inside the heater. Generally, most of the newer tankless water heaters have advanced technology which can protect the system from freezing. However, nothing is ever definite and you don’t want to fully rely on that. Even though some of the water heaters have freeze protection, manufacturers of tankless water heaters note that they should not be installed in areas where the temperature can reach 36 degrees fahrenheit or lower. If this step is not followed, the parts of the tankless that failed may not be covered under warranty. This is why it is so important to know how to best take care of your unit!
Why Is Winterization So Important?
Many warranties for hot water heaters may not include coverage for damages related to cold weather. Because of this, failure to properly prepare your unit can result in less cash in your wallet and more headaches than you can handle.
Luckily enough, winterization of a tankless water heater is a simple process. Despite the apparent simplicity of winterization, there are several other steps that must be taken to ensure your heater stays intact.
4 Steps To Get You Started:
Step 1: Cut the Power to the Heater, Waiting Until the Water Inside Cools:
This may be an obvious step; however it is important to not set yourself up for any unnecessary injuries. Heaters can be powered by electricity or gas, so ensure all precautions are taken to stay safe on the job. In addition, keep in mind the water inside the heater’s inner workings will be extremely hot, so make sure the water is at a manageable temperature before working with it.
Step 2: Shut Off the Main Water Supply:
Since there’s no reservoir for the unit, the water is going to keep coming until you shut it off. Instructions for where the heater’s shut off switch is can typically be found in the device’s owner’s manual.
Step 3: Open the Hot and Cold Water Taps On The Unit:
This will not only drain all the water out of the heater’s inner workings, but release a majority of the pressure that will have built up inside the unit. After this is done, disconnect the incoming and outgoing hoses and pipes and set them aside, allowing them to dry out completely.
Step 4: Remove the Water Filter:
Commonly referred to as the inlet water filter, its location can be found inside your heating units owner’s manual. Once you’ve done this, turn an air compressor onto the water filter’s connection. The blowing air should help to rid the heater of any remaining water.
Conclusion
Tankless water heaters are amazing units to have. They have incredible benefits that will make you and your family happy. Your plumbing contractors at Pride Plumbing want you to continue being happy and get the hot water from your hot water heater. That’s why we wanted to give you all of this information on how to take care of your unit and get it ready for winter.
As always, we’re here to help you with your plumbing services, repairs and installs. Check out our reviews then call your neighborhood plumber, Pride Plumbing of Rochester at (585) 271-7150 or click here to schedule an appointment online.
