How to Repair a Tankless Water Heater
- Turn Off Power. Turn off the electrical power at the control panel or breaker box. ...
- Open Hot Water Faucet. Open one hot water faucet while turning off the water supply to the heater. ...
- Drain the Heater. ...
- Remove Wires. ...
- Remove Old Element. ...
- Seat New O-Ring. ...
- Replace Wires. ...
- Turn on Water Supply. ...
- Dry the Control Board. ...
- Fill Up and Heat. ...
Full Answer
How much to get a tankless water heater installed?
Tankless water heater installation costs $300 to $2,500 for the labor alone, depending on the size, type, complexity, upgrades, and if the unit is gas or electric. Installing a new tankless heater requires plumbing, gas, venting, and electrical modifications.
Should you install a tankless water heater?
What to keep in mind for venting a tankless water heater:
- Tankless water heaters are vented in two ways: direct vent and power vent. ...
- Tankless water heaters use fans to blow exhaust from the unit horizontally, allowing vents to terminate on the side of a house. ...
- An exhaust vent can be metal or PVC, but what kind of unit will determine which you can use. ...
Who fixes tankless water heaters?
Water heater manufacturer Rinnai America Corp. has been working ... Tuttle says another benefit of having tankless units in commercial settings is the repair aspect. “Tankless provides the business owner with the ability to replace parts within the ...
Does my tankless water heater need to be serviced?
Yes, as it's important to properly maintain a tankless water heater. The heating elements get extremely hot and bake calcium and other deposits on the heating units quickly. Filtering even clean municipal water should be done. Neglecting to maintain a tankless heater results in a very short life span.
What is the most common problems with tankless water heaters?
Most Common Problems With Tankless Water HeatersOverload. Every tankless water heater has a flow rate capacity that should give you a good idea of how much hot water can be used simultaneously. ... Cold Water Sandwich Effect. ... Mineral or Sediment Buildup. ... Flame or Ignition Failure.
What causes a tankless water heater to stop working?
The Air Supply or Exhaust Is Blocked At times, your exhaust or air supply might get blocked, which can cause your tankless water heater to stop heating. Many water heaters will automatically shut off as a way to protect the appliance and help prevent other safety hazards that could result.
What is the life expectancy of a tankless water heater?
15 to 20 yearsA tankless water heater can last anywhere from 15 to 20 years with proper maintenance and operation. In comparison, a standard tank water heater normally has a working life of 10 years or less. How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work?
How do you troubleshoot a Rinnai tankless water heater?
0:262:42Rinnai Water Heater Troubleshooting - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWorking this includes checking the loose connections damaged wiring harness and removing theMoreWorking this includes checking the loose connections damaged wiring harness and removing the deposits from the electrodes. Check the burner. And clean it if necessary from the dirt.
Do tankless water heaters have a reset button?
To prevent accidental resets, tankless water heaters are designed to prevent accidental resets, so you are probably going to have to hold the button down to get the reset to trigger.
How do I know if my tankless water heater is bad?
Signs Your Tankless Water Heater System Needs RepairsA drop in hot water pressure. ... Lukewarm water. ... The water heater keeps shutting off. ... Unusual behavior from other appliances. ... Leaks.
How often should a tankless water heater be replaced?
20 yearsWater Heater Lifespan If your tank water heater is more than 10 years old, it may be time to consider replacing it. With proper maintenance, a tank water heater tank should last six to 12 years. A tankless water heater can last for more than 20 years.
What are the disadvantages of a tankless hot water heater?
The Cons of Tankless Water heaters:Con: High Upfront Cost of the Unit and Installation.Con: Take Longer to Deliver Hot Water.Con: Cold Water Sandwich.Con: Inconsistent Water Temperature When Multiple Outlets Are in Use.Con: Difficult to Achieve a Lukewarm Temperature.Con: No Access to Hot Water During a Power Outage.More items...•
When should I descale my tankless water heater?
Over time, a tankless water heater may accumulate mineral build up which can erode the walls inside your tank's heating chamber. To properly maintain and clean your tankless water heater, it's important to flush those mineral deposits at least once a year.
Why am I not getting hot water from my Rinnai tankless water heater?
If you find you're not getting the hot water you need, start by lowering the temperature setting on your tankless water heater by a couple of degrees. It's counterintuitive, but it affects the hot/cold mix ratio and will activate the tankless water heater unit for lower-flow fixtures.
Why is my Rinnai gas heater not working?
Heater failing due to blocked filters Clogged filters can lead to an increase in temperature leading to abnormal combustion. It is one of the many reasons a Rinnai gas heater may fail to work. Clean the filters regularly, so dirt and debris do not accumulate and impede the heaters' ability to heat water.
Do tankless water heaters have fuses?
If you have an electric tankless water heater, check your breaker box. It's likely that you blew a fuse on the outlet. If you have a gas water heater, make sure the gas supply is turned on for the water heater. If everything looks like it's supposed to, call your plumber and let them inspect the unit.
Why am I not getting hot water from my Rinnai tankless water heater?
If you find you're not getting the hot water you need, start by lowering the temperature setting on your tankless water heater by a couple of degrees. It's counterintuitive, but it affects the hot/cold mix ratio and will activate the tankless water heater unit for lower-flow fixtures.
What activates a tankless water heater?
You activate the heating process when you turn on your faucet to the warm or hot positions. Generally, this is a more efficient option than the standard tank-based water heater, in which the water is heated continually regardless of whether you are asleep or out of your house for the day.
Why do you need a professional to repair your tankless water heater?
Although, you can most certainly fix your tankless water heater if you follow the guide step by step. However, if you aren’t confident about the repair job, we highly advise you to contact a professional.
What is tankless water heater?
Also as the name means, there is no tank to store the water while it gets heated. Instead, the water is continuously running from the main source while it gets heated. Table of Contents [ show]
Why is my water heater not heating?
With a gas water heater, the most common problem is that the burner is clogged, resulting in partial heating of the burner or sometimes there is no flame at all, and the entire burner remains unheated.
How to unscrew a heating element?
Unscrew the nut holding the heating element in its position using an adjustable wrench thereby detaching it from the main unit.
What to do if water is frozen in pipeline?
Check the plumbing if the water is not available from the main source and make sure that any material or object does not choke the main pipeline. In case of extreme cold and if any part of the plumbing is outside, the water might have frozen midway in the pipeline.
Why shut down gas supply?
Shut down the supply of gas so as to avoid an accident.
Do you have to worry about a heater?
There is no need to worry as there is a solution to every problem and you might not even have to spend a penny to get the heater working smoothly.
How to flush a water heater when water is slow?
You’ll need a small sump pump or submersible pump, a 5-gallon bucket, two hoses, and 2 gallons of white vinegar. 1. Remove the unit’s cover.
How to relieve water pressure in a gas water heater?
On an electric unit, shut off the 240-volt circuit breaker or flip the disconnect switch in the subpanel . Pull out the silver tab in the center of the pressure-relief valve to relieve the water pressure. 2.
How to clean a water heater with vinegar?
2. Place the sump pump or submersible pump suction pickup in a bucket with the vinegar. Run a hose from the water heater’s inlet to the sump pump and another hose from the pressure-relief valve to the bucket. Plug in or turn on the pump and allow it to run the vinegar through the water heater for 15 to 20 minutes.
What happens if a gas water heater burner is clogged?
With a gas tankless water heater, the burner may get clogged, resulting in hot spots that can burn the heat exchanger. If you see some parts of the burner are not producing flames, shut off the water and gas, remove the burner, and clean out the apertures with a small wire. Replace the burner and test the unit.
How to clean a water pump?
Take the pump out of the bucket and run it briefly to eject any remaining vinegar. Empty the bucket and fill it with clean water. Put the pump in and turn it on to run clean water through the system for a few minutes. Disconnect the hoses and then turn on the water and power.
How long does vinegar run through water heater?
Plug in or turn on the pump and allow it to run the vinegar through the water heater for 15 to 20 minutes. This will clean out mineral deposits known as “scaling.”. Shut off the pump. Unscrew the housing for the inline filter, which is usually located near the water inlet.
How to remove the heating chamber plate?
2. Open the hot water handle of a nearby faucet so water can siphon out. Remove the screws on the unit’s underside that hold the heating chamber plate, remove the plate, allow the water to drain out, and replace the plate. 3. Disconnect the wires leading to the heating unit, which may be held in place with screws.
What minerals are in a tankless water heater?
Hard water (in contrast with soft water) is water with a high mineral content, and the harder your water, the higher the potential for damaging mineral buildup. Calcium and Magnesium are the two minerals ...
Why does my water heater not ignite?
If your gas valve or water valves are not fully opened, this could also cause the ignition to fail.
Why does my water heater keep shutting down?
Your water heater may struggle to supply the hot water needed or shut down altogether if it becomes overloaded. If this happens, you should reduce the demand for hot water by limiting simultaneous applications, and you may want to consider resetting your unit.
Is a tankless water heater good?
Tankless water heaters are a great investment for your home or office. Not only are they highly efficient, but they can also save you money by heating water only on-demand. Although uncommon, issues can arise if something isn’t working correctly within your water heater.
What happens when you open a tankless water heater?
When the user opens the hot water tap, the electronics in the tankless unit reacts, allowing the ignition to start, generating the sparks. With the ignition electrodes creating sparks, the gas starts flowing into the combustion chamber, igniting the burner.
How does a tankless water heater work?
The tankless water heater is a device that heats the water on demand. On-demand means that there is no storage water tank; water is heated while passing through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is located in the combustion chamber, where the main gas burner with the ignition is also placed (below). The gas is coming from the gas supply through the gas line and gas valve.
What causes a tankless water heater to fail?
The failure can be caused by a problem inside the water heater or due to an external cause.
How to fix a gas water heater?
But, before trying to fix the unit, let's go first through the troubleshooting checklist recommended by the manufacturers. The checklist can assist you in fixing some common and frequent problems, such as flame loss, no hot water, ignition problems, or avoid potential issues: 1 Make sure that gas and water are open and electricity is ON (120 VAC supply). 2 Confirm that the correct gas type (natural gas or LP) is used. 3 Make sure the pressure is per specs. 4 Verify that all air was purged from the gas line and after the installation. 5 Make sure plumbing is installed correctly, per codes and manufacturer's instructions. 6 See if the water pressure is per specs. 7 Ensure that water is not too hard (over 7 grains) as it can cause sediment build-up. 8 If your location is at a higher altitude, check out if the water heater is set correctly or as designed. 9 And finally, is there an error code?
How to fix a water heater that has no spark?
Turn the gas supply to the water heater off. Unplug the igniter wire. Use the insulated pliers, hold the igniter wire, and ¼" from a metal part. Run the heater. If there is no spark, then fix one of the following problems:
Why is my heat exchanger wet?
Also, inspect all the wiring and electrical connections that could be wet. The reason for the moisture could be a leak from the heat exchanger or other components or improper venting and condensation.
How to clean a gas burner?
Burner. Inspect the gas burner for debris or condensate build-up, and if necessary, use the air compressor or strong vacuum cleaner to clean. Debris and condensate could prevent the burner from firing or cause inside turbulence.
