Flushing the System Annually Helps Maintain Efficiency

Much like other home appliances, your tankless water heater needs some regular maintenance in order to have a long and useful life. But, what’s required for a tankless is much easier than what the maintenance looks like for a conventional water heater.

Here at Stewart Plumbing, we want to help make sure that your tankless system lasts you a full 20 years and consistently works as efficiently as possible. So, not only will we be there when you need a cleaning, but we will also provide you with all the information you need about system maintenance.

Tankless Water Heater Maintenance Frequency

Most tankless manufacturers suggest at least an annual cleaning of your system, but because the methods used to flush out your system are safe, you can realistically clean it as often as you see fit.

A good rule of thumb, though: If you have more than one tankless water heater in your home, it’d be a smart idea to put them on a rotating maintenance schedule so both aren’t out of commission at the same time.

Types of Tankless Maintenance

There are two activities that should be done to maintain a tankless: a flush out of the system and a cleaning of the intake screens.

1. Cleaning the intake screens: To do this, unscrew the intake pipes and clean the screen of any paper or putty that has been caught in the wire mesh. Periodically check the inlet line to ensure it remains clear.
2. Flushing the system: Disconnect the power supply from the water heater and close the main valve handles. Locate the purge port on the cold and hot water valves and slowly open the drain caps. Once that’s done, the manufacturer should have specific directions for moving forward. After you complete the flushing, make sure the purge port valves are closed, remove the lines, and re-install the purge port drain caps. Only after all of this is done should you try to restart the water heater.

For more information on maintaining your tankless water heater, or to set up an appointment to have a Stewart Plumbing technician  perform it for you, give our office a call today!