Simple maintenance procedures are what it takes to keep your water heating system in good working condition. Unfortunately, most households simply overlook the significance of maintenance and end up facing costly repairs and replacements. For example, cleaning the water heater tank is a simple task. When we don’t clean the unit, various minerals and sediments keep adding up making the unit less efficient. If ignored for a long period, dirt can slowly deteriorate your heater.
However, maintenance procedures can vary depending on what type of water heater is installed in your house or office. Tankless water heaters don’t come with a water storage tank, which holds water anywhere from 30 to 80 gallons. Each type of water heating system has its own advantages and disadvantages. Regardless of what type of unit you’re using to supply your hot water, make sure you maintain it. If you don’t have the time or skills to repair or maintain your water heater, hire a professional HVAC expert to do it for you.
Maintenance of tankless water heaters
The way tankless units operate differ from the way traditional units work. Corrosive water is something that can deteriorate both traditional and modern water heater systems. Using a water softener can help you avoid buildup and corrosion from hard water which can be a major concern if you have a storage tank system. Tankless models are less vulnerable to corrosive water because they don’t store water.
Nevertheless, keeping your tankless system protected against corrosion is a major maintenance step. Flushing your tankless unit at least once a year is recommended to avoid sediment build up on the bottom. Here is what you need to do to perform basic maintenance:
- Turn off the power source for your tankless water heater and then turn off the 3 valves attached to the unit
- From the purge valves, remove the purge port valve caps
- Attach hosing lines to each of the 3 valves
- Turn the purge port valves perpendicularly to open them
- You can use approx 9 liters of undiluted white vinegar to clean the heater (it’s not recommended to use chemical solutions for this purpose)
- Follow the directions of the manufacturer of your tankless unit to carry out flushing and draining
- Close the purge port valves after performing the flushing process
- Disconnect and remove hosing lines and tighten the valve caps
- Again, follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer to restart the unit
Replacing old, inefficient water heaters with energy-efficient tankless water heaters is the right choice for many household and commercial applications as they consume less energy. Unlike traditional storage-based systems, tankless heaters operate when needed.
Follow the above-mentioned instructions to clean your tankless unit. If you don’t have time or tools to maintain your HVAC systems, consult an HVAC company. In Edmonton, Nor-Can Heating & Air has been delivering impeccable HVAC services which include water heater maintenance and repair. Contact us for more details!
