- We’ll be exploring how to flush a Navien tankless water heater in this article, so if you’ve always wanted to know how to keep your Navien tankless water heater running smoothly, this is a piece you need to read!
Tankless water heaters have become popular over the years thanks to their convenience and energy-saving operation compared to its counterpart that needs a tank to function. Several brands have taken advantage of their increasing popularity to enjoy a fair market share, including Navien.
Its tankless water heaters have been making heavy waves due to their efficiency and energy-saving functionality. However, like any other home appliance, longevity and performance are always down to how regularly the appliance is maintained. One of the essential maintenance tasks of a tankless water heater is flushing the system, which helps remove scale and mineral buildup that can hinder the unit’s efficiency.
In this article, we will help provide a comprehensive guide on how to flush a Navien tankless water heater, making it easy for you to follow and maintain your unit. Let’s get right into it!
Signs That Your Navien Tankless Water Heater Needs to be Flushed
You must regularly maintain your Navien tankless water heater to keep it functioning at the highest level possible. However, it can be unclear when a tank is needed to be flushed, so you must look out for some signs to know when exactly this should be done. Below are some signs that indicate that your Navien tankless water heater might need to be flushed as soon as possible:
Reduced efficiency
A drop in performance might indicate that a tankless water heater needs to be flushed. A stuck water heater may lead to the unit taking longer to heat, so one must pay enough attention to the signs whenever the tankless water heater gives some.
Unusual noises
Scale buildup in your Navien tankless water heater could cause it to make rumbling sounds, which can be very disturbing sometimes. When water flows through or over mineral deposits in the water heater, it causes the unit to make funny noises or loud vibrations. Once you start noticing these noises, the first thing you should do is flush the unit to prevent any damage.
Troubleshooting tips
Before taking action, you need to determine what might be wrong with your Navien tankless water heater. This ensures you’re tackling the right problem with the right solution and not causing further damage to the unit. Here are some problems you could face with your tankless water heater:
- Navien tankless water heater with no hot water: Check its venting system, gas, and power supply for irregularities. After checking these things, you should consider flushing the unit if you still don’t get hot water.
- Navien water heater troubleshooting for error codes: You can always check the Navien tankless water heater manual to understand its most common error codes and how they can be cleared. If your Navien water heater displays any error code, this is the best way to know what it means.
Preparing for the Flushing Process
The flushing process should never kickstart until you have all the necessary tools you need, including the ones for safety. This ensures the whole process goes smoothly and safely for all parties involved.
Gathering necessary tools and materials
- A flush kit: One of the most important things you need to get started is a Navien tankless water heater flush kit. Using a flush kit from another brand may damage the unit you don’t want. The kit usually includes several adapters, hoses, and a pump.
- White vinegar: Another thing you’re going to need is white vinegar. Over the years, this simple element has been of utmost importance to any household, and it could come in handy when flushing your tankless water heater.
Safety precautions
- Taking safety precautions is as important as regularly maintaining your tankless water heater in the first place, which is why you must always put safety measures in place whenever you want to flush your unit. Before flushing your tankless water heater, always ensure the power supply is turned off. This helps protect both you and the unit from power-related damages.
- Part of your safety precautions should be the availability of eye protection and hand gloves. This ensures that spills that splash during the flushing process don’t affect you.
Flushing a Navien Tankless Water Heater with Vinegar
Vinegar is naturally effective, which is why it is always recommended for cleaning, including a tankless water heater. To clean your Navien tankless water heater with vinegar, check below for the step-by-step process:
- Turn off the power and gas supply: The process of flushing your water heater should never kickstart unless you’ve turned off both the power and gas supply, so you must observe this before you begin anything.
- Close the isolation valves: Find where the cold and hot water isolation valves are to close them up. This is to ensure that water is not running during this process.
- Connect the flush kit hoses: After closing up the isolation valves, the next thing to do is connect the flush kit hoses. Always ensure you connect the right flush kit hoses. The one meant for cold water should be connected to the cold water service valve, and the one meant for hot water should be connected to the hot water service valve.
- Fill the bucket with vinegar: Get a bucket and add up to 3 gallons of white vinegar in it.
- Turn on the pump: After filling the bucket with vinegar, you should turn on the pump to circulate the vinegar through the water heater to dissolve any mineral buildup in the unit.
- Let the vinegar circulate: Wait an hour to let the white vinegar circulate properly through the water heater.
- Turn off the pump: Turn off the water pump after the white vinegar must have circulated through the unit. Disconnect the whole pump from the power source to be safe.
- Flush the system with cold water: Run cold water through the unit for about 10 minutes to clear whatever vinegar or mineral deposits might be left in it.
- Disconnect the hoses: It’s time to disconnect the flush kit from the unit. Close the isolation valves and move on to the next step; restore power.
- Restore power and gas supply: We believe this method works, so the next thing is to restore power and check if it’s running properly.
Conclusion
There’s no better way to ensure the longevity of your Navien tankless water than regular maintenance, which includes regular flushing. In this article, we’ve highlighted the steps involved in flushing your Navien tankless water heater, and we hope you find it comprehensive enough. If you follow the guide carefully, you’ll find the whole process seamless and very convenient. Remember to prioritize safety, so before you begin any maintenance routine, always put proper safety measures in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I flush my Navien tankless water heater?
You should flush your Navien tankless water heater every 6 months to a year.
What are the benefits of flushing my Navien tankless water heater?
Flushing your Navien tankless water heater will help to remove sediment and debris from the tank, which can improve the efficiency of your water heater and extend its lifespan.
How do I flush my Navien tankless water heater?
To flush your Navien tankless water heater, you will need to:
- Turn off the power to your water heater.
- Open the drain valve on the bottom of the tank.
- Turn on the hot water faucet until the water runs clear.
- Close the drain valve.
- Turn on the power to your water heater.
What should I do if I have any problems flushing my Navien tankless water heater?
If you have any problems flushing your Navien tankless water heater, contact a qualified plumber for assistance.