How to flush out a tankless water heater

This video shows how to flush a tankless water heater using vinegar as recommended by the heater manufacturer. This is much less expensive in the long run. It is recommended to do every six months to a year if you have hard water.

[@shrikiAvi]

i have two Rheem tankless water heaters. when it was installed back in 2009 the plumber didn't install the service valve to each unit. one of the units just stated acting out. shutting off with an error that meant cleaning the unit. called a plumber got a $2400 quote which he discounted to $1800. i said let me get back to you. checked online got both kits for $150 delivered. an hour it was installed. i cleaned the unit according to this video just without closing the main water valve as i don't see a need for it. the service valve has a shut off valve already. i ran it for an hour and the unit works perfect. thanks Josh

[@mommabear4015]

I love my tankless hot water heater.. thank you for making a video to show us how to flush it.. makes it so much easier .

[@johnnyLwhatTheHell]

Thank you for this video. It has really helped me. I have a tankless water heater myself, and I'm way overdue to give it a good douching.

[@sonicgrub]

hilarious

[@mejones7540]

Great video. Only other thing I would recommend is before you plug in the pump also take out the small pre-filter with a leatherman tool by turning the tool inside the pipe right above cold faucet. Put it in some water to clean it and then put it back in before turning pump on. After flushing, take it out again to check and make sure its not clogged with sediment from flushing. Clean again and put back in and your set to disconnect.

[@iragerber3232]

Thank you so much for your video. This is the second year of cleaning my R****I tank and I couldn't do without this video. Very much appreciated.

[@Mr151josh]

Ira... Your welcome. I do make a little extra cash with my KZbin channel but comments like yours makes me much more enthused about putting out more how to videos. I feel like sharing knowledge is a small way to help people without the incentive of gain. I didn't start my channel with ideas of making money. Google asked me if they could advertise and I said sure. So it's been a win win for me and my viewers. Glad I could help. See you in cyber world. Thanks for the positive feedback it helps more than you know.

[@NycCitizen]

When you get done you need to inspect the internal water filter. It is the black round knob at the base of the water in line. If you don’t Che k this , you may get flow related error codes. You can install a scale remover filter and never have to bother with this vinager process .

[@eddievangiesen4779]

Awesome video! Very clear instructions. Thank you.

[@aceopinions]

Very well done! You explain the process very well. I actually used an inexpensive sump pump and adapted it to the hose connections. using a a 5 gallon laundry tub. The 5 gallon bucket used is great too if you have one. The Rinnai instructions are worthless. Thanks very much

[@allan88qt]

thank for a video but can i ask where can i purchase the pump

[@MrWealleycat]

Thank you for making this video!

[@dennismedeiros5125]

thank you so much. I have had my water htr for two years. now I can clean it without the plumber exspence..thanks again

[@AndreaCosco]

You are like the guys in tv that put a sticker on top of the MacBook

[@edwardsmith4353]

Great and professional! Thank you!

[@triplelowman]

thank you. perfectly done. off to go do mine with confidence.

[@johnf5947]

How about the water inlet filter above the cold water service valve after you are done?

[@deepvillage]

excellent helpful video ...off to do mine as well , 2 yrs been putting it off so I will give it 2 hours to descale thanks !

[@steveroy1]

Good video -- and I appreciate the comments from other guys with additional experience (John). Since I really don't want to screw anything up, I'm going to pay my plumber to do it the first time. He told me I could take notes so I could do it myself the next time.

[@cocatfan]

Steve Roy This is what I did. Paid the first time and took notes. I just wrote my notes up after having seen it over a month ago. I had to watch a video to figure out my notes. Pretty easy procedure! Very expensive to have a plumber do it. I will do it from now on.

[@cocatfan]

toronto> I am doing it myself from now on. I think the equipment will be less than what I paid the plumber by along shot.

[@EHCBunny4real]

I just cleaned my tankless without calling in a handyman to do it. Yes I had to learn how to fully tighten the valves but at least I save myself some dough. I was shocked to see the amount of mineral deposits in that small heater. Thanks for your video.

[@Mr151josh]

I to just replaced my combustion motor after getting a code 61 caused by a guy from triple a doing a free servicing on ours. After he broke it he quoted 524 dollars to fix his mistake!!! So I got a new motor sent from Rennai by making up a plumber company and they shipped it overbite for free. NEVER USE AAA for anything. Good for you and with my install and your cleaning that's 2 for the good guys and 0 for the service repair ripoff guys.

[@Mr151josh]

+Mr151josh over night. Ha. Spell check is funny.

[@ADreamchild]

EH CBunny could u help me with cleaning mine i am un sure about turning the valvles

[@EHCBunny4real]

Be sure to use 3 gallons of White vinegar and nothing else kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXfclGCud86HnrM

[@oso1700]

Thank you for the tips

[@judywire]

Thanks for the great video.

[@pguercius1]

what size pump should be used?

[@josephroche9529]

Good video. I had to watch a couple and then realized that my valves are different I think mine are called bypass valves. Descaling as I type. Thanks. Old setups might have valves below and above inlet/outlet to bypass. A couple more comments. If you open the pressure to drain , make sure you close it otw the solution is not going to stay in the system. Also the amount of solution has to be enough to fill the system and not drain the bucket. Not all systems have the same capacity.

[@gordonleongyow]

what sized pump

[@imonaboat5252]

It never flushed like it should. Good attempt, but wrong. Ive installed over 600 rinnai units in 7 yrs. When the power is off, the cold water servo closes. When u attach a pump, it still is able to push a little water through, butnonky at about 15% of what it should. Remove the discharge hose out of the bucket and see just jow strong the stream is. You need to turn on the power, and turn the gas valve off, then flush. Ignore the code 11 or 12 that beeps for the next hour. Then after a proper flush, you may need to remove both thermistors inside the unit and clean those off as well. A complete and thorough tankless service includes breaking down the combustion chamber and using an air compressor to rezlly clean it. Then shopvac everything out of it. Remove the flame rod and pilor rod, and sand them both, then replace the fiberglass gasket behind it. Remove the fan completely, spray it with air or clean with vinegar (if needed), and of course vinegar flush. This will ensure a 30 yr lifespan if you do a complete service every 2-3yrs. good attempt though.

[@mrorbit2u]

Hello John, was wondering if you could give me a heads up on how to change the temperature on my Rinnai tankless RL75 natural gas. I've got it to 140 now but for some reason I can't figure out how to get it higher. I saw in the manual about changing jumpers around but still couldn't get it higher. Please help if possible. Thanks in advance.

[@aceopinions]

The video is well done, but John, I believe you are correct with the Rinnai. I did find that I needed to turn it on for the flow to be stronger. Thanks for the tip on cleaning the combustion chamber as well.

[@barbarawillis8739]

I have a ECO 27 Just installed it. I get cold water but my hot water has NO PRESSURE. What could be the problem? Do I need to clean it already?

[@RMCPL]

Thank you John. I have been trying to get my pump to pump vinegar from my bucket through the Rinnai for about an hour now. Took the pump apart, tried several combinations of valves open and closed etc. Everything was right about my setup EXCEPT that I followed these instructions and Rinnai's instructions, and unplugged the unit. WRONG! How was I to know that the cold water valve (solenoid), would stay closed with the unit off? Working fine now!! :-)

[@MSRgoogle]

how much vinegar did you put in your bucket? Any special kind of vinegar you recommend?

[@thecamilleshow5415]

This is great thank you!

[@techfluid]

Thanks for the info~!

[@optimus]

How often do you need to flush the tankless ?

[@dmitry92203]

good video. like the tape covering the brand. haha

[@racooper2901]

very good job

[@GEERUP]

THANK YOU

[@kingrukus1234]

"Electrictricity" 2:59 LOLOL

[@twogunsforme1]

Thank you

[@krisosborne4878]

Thanks this video help with a few thing including peace of mind! Lol

[@Mr151josh]

That's why I made this one. I had to figure out a bunch of stuff and I could see how a video would save some people time and stress.

[@alexmoody2990]

Nice video but I believe most recommendations would be to reverse flow the flow. I think I would chang your hoses around to go in the outlet (Hot) and come out the normal Inlet side.

[@TheJoeinhose]

+Alex Moody actually I have never read or gotten a recommendation to reverse the flowfrom a engineer or technician. On the other hand, I would suggest, and I have done this myself, is that after about 30 minutes of flushing, turn the outlet valve half off, such that a higher back pressure is created in the system while still keeping the flow going through. The higher back pressure will improve the contact with the vinegar and thus the scrubbing effect.

[@scottyboy2500]

@@TheJoeinhose I have always flushed in reverse, to help peel the scale, which I have been told actually forms directionaly inside the tubes like fish scales.

[@javiernerio8675]

I need trouble shot in tankless

[@u2ooberboober]

I believe that system is called "clean in place".

[@Mr151josh]

I know I said tank but it is a small cooper water holder inside the unit. You could say small tank but it's more of a container. Thanks watching and commenting.

[@gasousman]

The tap water had no vinegar coming out as well.

[@byronjames6136]

can I descale my tankless hotwater with CRL? should it be dilouted

[@Mr151josh]

Byron James I'm not an expert by any means and I'm pretty sure they only recommend vinegar. I would look it up or call rannai up and ask. They have a customer service number. It's listed online. Good luck and thanks for watching.

[@EHCBunny4real]

No because your heater should only have food grade solvents. Use White cleaning vinegar instead.

[@Albertojedi]

Too much of a hassle this sump pump thing, specially when your heater is to be installed in a tight spot like a pantry. Tankless water systems should come with an easier way to let them descaled.

[@mrorbit2u]

Hello all, was wondering if anyone could give me a heads up on how to change the temperature on my Rinnai tankless RL75 natural gas. I've got it to 140 now but for some reason I can't figure out how to get it higher. I saw in the manual about changing jumpers around but still couldn't get it higher. Please help if possible. Thanks in advance.

[@kierankay100]

soo there tanklees yeh you said the vinegar goes up through the little tank and back out it maybe small but you said tank

[@FlannelGuy_1978]

Don't forget to clean out the filter as a part of the cleaning process...

[@kevinmcintosh9990]

Nice educational video, but I can clearly tell that is a Rinnai water heater so you're probably in serious trouble😁

[@navila769]

Why is that I have one and it's not releasing hot water to the faucet and flow is completely stopped

[@brettalevato4143]

yep, could not see that name at all. good job.

[@johnkrim8377]

........Brett Alevato

[@johnkrim8377]

Brett Alevato d

[@Renatoz2008]

what about the gas valve, you forgot to turn it off.

[@randellsmith828]

lol too funny

[@Draceb]

You don't need the rights to the product to do a video like this as its educational, If you needed rights every single how to, video on youtube would most likely be removed, every car video and every instructional video that mentions a product. The fair use act protects you, in section 1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use 17 U.S.C. § 107 Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 17 U.S.C. § 106 and 17 U.S.C. § 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include: 1. the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes

[@TengYuan]

i am sure the manufacturer could not be happier if someone was making videos on how to service their water heaters and letting others know about it.

[@jimbeaver27]

Hmmm, I live in Japan where these heaters are made and used everywhere and nobody here ever flushes them. They tend to last at least 20 years.

[@caru3257]

Jim Davis. It may be the water quality.

[@codyk1395]

well first of all its a tankless system so there is no tank in there. second when you flush the system you need to leave the system on and running otherwise it's not doing much for you. turn your unit down to about 98° and let it run the vinegar solution through.

[@j7u7y7]

video is too jerky

[@lovefairyivy]

hahahaha...electric tricity. anyway the correct terminology is heat exchanger bud.