How To Properly Flush A Tankless Water Heater!

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In this video, I show step by step how I flush and maintenance a Rinnai Tankless Water Heater. This process goes for any tankless water heater as long as you have flush valves installed. Also I repair an installation error on the exhaust condensation port.
Use the links below for material and equipment I use to flush tankless water heaters.
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[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

According to my advanced KZbin analytics 99% of viewers of this video are not Subscribed! Please Subscribe, it really helps!

[@mtngrammy6953]

Thank you for making this such a clear step-by-step video! Maybe easy enough that even a near 80 year old lady could do it. I hope so.

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Good luck. Email me [e-mail] if you have any questions!

[@azukar2k7]

thank you! my plumber was charging me 300$ each year... now saving money for family vacations

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Happy to help!

[@nickvelardi3189]

Gonna take awhile to go on vacation saving 300 a year lol

[@memoreeze]

Thanks for the instructional video. Saved me from having to have a plumber do it and $350! 👍🏽

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Glad to help

[@Ddronron1]

Thanks so much for taking the time to show this great video and explain each step! This is extremely helpful and I really appreciate how slowly and methodically you spoke, which made it not only easy to follow, but a real pleasure. You did a fantastic job and certainly will help me and any others who want to flush our tankless water heaters.

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Thank you for such kind words!

[@svenhodaka9145]

I like your post purge process after descaling. This ensures all the vinegar or descaling fluid is removed from your system and not flushed through your water system to the taps. Cleaning the in-line screen before and after the descaling is an excellent idea too. Great demo. Thanks 😁

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Thanks for watching!

[@jolivares0723]

Dude, this video is amazing. Thank you so much. Just what I needed.

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Glad it helped.

[@buddha65281]

Just wanted to say "Thank You".. have seen several of these but NONE with the ATTENTION TO DETAIL as this one... did not even know that there was a 'FILTER" on the inlet side... very nice man.. Happy New Year 2024!

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Thanks for watching! Happy New Year!

[@michaelbullington137]

Well done. The most thorough video on the subject that I've seen.

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Thanks

[@mattro4902]

This was very informative. Much appreciated.

[@Portageediggah]

Great great video. Thanks and God Bless you and your business

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Thanks

[@Helmut-e7w]

At the end of flushing I rinse first the system into a second white bucket to see how clean the outcomig water ist,then I open the house system and flush out of a nearby tap.Using White Vinegar I can go by the smell if anything is clean.BTW . After all done I rinse and flush my pump very good to get the internals cleaned out of any essit.Knowing that most installers are messy and ask to cut corners,I let the instalers just do what the law requiers and did the rest myselfe.

[@charissasolik9129]

You are a lifesaver!!! Thank you!!!

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

No problem! Thanks for watching!

[@candis9693]

Thank you this is working great!

[@joegioffre6383]

Thank you for the tutorial! Worked out perfectly. 😊

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Happy to help!

[@jrh86]

Good stuff another Job sorted, interesting and informative thanks 👍👍😃

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Appreciate that brother. Thanks for watching and commenting on all the videos. It really helps out!

[@sohailahmad200]

Hi, great video. I was wondering if this is still a DIY task even if you haven’t done a descale since the install? Got my house in 2017 new and hasn’t been done before. Read on a few comments for the Rheen tank that it’s better to let a professional do it. But mine is exactly like yours tankless.

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

As long as you have the flush valves installed like on this video you can do it. Check the links in the description for everything you need!

[@gojje1]

Thank you. It is very helpful.

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Thanks for watching.

[@fb510m]

Excellently communicated and shown!! Thank you.

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Thanks

[@NoName-be5ir]

I’m not getting a flush circulation when I plug the pump up. Does the power to the tankless need to be on ? I have pump hooked to cold inlet and valve open, house water valve off. Hot side to house off but out side flush valve open for an open loop. Gas valve off also. Never mind lol it’s circulating now.. with no power on , i started over and just must of missed something.. it’s flushing 😅now. Thanks for the video!!

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Glad you figured it out and the video helped!

[@carlyy9991]

Do you think it would be ok to use a 1/2 hp pump instead? Already own one :)

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Yes I’m sure a 1/2 hp will be fine.

[@slamyee]

I got some questions, Should I plug tank back on while flushing and should I also turn off the gas while flushing

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Leave the water heater power off the whole time during the flush. And yes, always a good idea to cut the gas off.

[@wyliecoyote5.082]

Is this process needed on electric tankless water heaters?

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Yes. Electric tankless units still need to have flush valves installed and flushed

[@testtest648]

The one bit of advise i'd add is to only unplug it when it's firing. If you do this the valves will be fully open and it will descale more fully.

[@sourcow56]

When is it firing?

[@briancarlisi2224]

Jeff, what size utility pump are you using? I have a 1/4 HP Superior Pump rated at 34-37 GPM. CU199 manual says to flush at 15 liters per minute which is about 4 gallons per minute. Is my sump pump too big? Do I reduce the flow by restricting its output? I’d appreciate if you tell us your pump size and any flow reducer. Thanks!

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Funny you ask this. I’m about to post in the next day or so about the new pump I’m using for flushing. It’s a 1/3 HP 37 GPM. Maybe the 15 LMP is a minimum…. Either way I’ve been using 37 GPM pumps for these flushes for years and never had an issue. Stay tuned for the video. I think I’m going to drop it Saturday or Sunday.

[@briancarlisi2224]

@@JeffsHVACAdventures this is what I learned. At the pumps 1” discharge the flow is about 37 GPM. Adding a 3/4 reducer to attach a garden hose cuts this flow nearly in half to let’s say 18 GPM. But by using the smaller diameter washing machine hoses, we’d cut the flow nearly in half again to 9 GPM. Figure on losing another GPM factoring in the height of the unit from the bucket and your about double the Rinnai recommended 4 GPM flow & you can “make up” for that lack of dwell time by circulating the juice a bit longer than the 45 min or so.

[@NoName-be5ir]

Where do you find the descaling solution?

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Check the description of this video. I have links for everything you need. 🤙

[@crunchycherrio]

Doesn't the Rinnai website specifically state to only use white vinegar for flushing the unit?

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

I’ve been told by a couple different reps this solution is fine. I usually do use vinegar but I didn’t have any that day.

[@erikadeloera6259]

My water heater doesn't it's not giving out an error code, the in use light it's of . There is no hot water. What can I do?

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Possibly a bad flow sensor if the in use light isn’t coming on when there is a demand for HW. Best bet is to to call a licensed plumber or HVAC technician.

[@meatball6930]

Great video but my brain tells me to reverse the lines-run the water/descaler backwards thru the system then switch back to normal flow. Like anything in this world if you are clogged from from one side then blow or flush from the other to unclog

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

You might be able to do that with Rinnai. But some brands have check valves in place where it will only flow one way. But not a bad idea if you have a decent clog.

[@KMcFarlane-s4q]

At what point do I shut off the propane? Thanks

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Right after you disconnect the power.

[@KMcFarlane-s4q]

@@JeffsHVACAdventures appreciate it, thanks!

[@jeffcook9798]

How many gallons of white vinegar into a 5 gal bucket would you use to flush a Rinnai RUR199in natural gas? How long? What pump did you settle on to do flushes for this unit. Going to by one and keep just for flushes when the SS pops up on the LED screen.

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

2 gallons of vinegar for 40-60 min. This is the pump I use amzn.to/46Vug4S I talk about this pump in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/kH7GZIdvhc5snposi=su6fBY2Wpy11Skw1

[@jeffcook9798]

@@JeffsHVACAdventures I did the flush today with white distilled vinegar and used same pump maker you mentioned and got model UTL-336PE. I like the auto shut off feature if things get down to 1/4" mark. Used your video and all went well. Thanks for taking your time in the video and going thru all the steps. How often should I be looking to flush the system? We have the Rinnai RuR199in. 😀

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

@@jeffcook9798my apologies. This response slipped through the cracks. Glad everything went well. Flushing intervals are based on use. If you have a 2 person family, once every other year is fine. 4 or more ppl I would recommend once a year. 🤙

[@rushrules81]

Great vid. I have the exact water heater, and I just got a price from a plumber of $329 to do it. Lol, I already have a bucket and pump, I will order descaler and grab a couple of hoses at Lowes and do it myself....thanks!

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Glad I could help. You can use a couple gallons of white vinegar too.

[@rushrules81]

@JeffsHVACAdventures OK, that makes sense. We use vinegar to descale our Keurig coffee maker. Thanks

[@VIPP79]

On this particular heater you have to pull the burner out and clean it. You should not pull out flame rods and ignitor and let them hang on the wires. If you are not sure what are you doing better not to do it.

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

Thanks for the tip

[@sohailahmad200]

Are there any videos for removing the burner and cleaning it?

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

@sohailahmad200 I’ve not got a video of pulling the heat exchanger but here’s a video of me cleaning it in place. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqKZhal5ZrlkfZo

[@sohailahmad200]

@@JeffsHVACAdventures man you are very quick with responses, really appreciate it!! Subscribed