How Do I Unfreeze My Tankless Water Heater? – A Helpful Guide to Unfreezing a Tankless Water Heater

SUMMARY

In this article, we will explain why your tankless water heater has frozen. We will provide sound reasons and information on on how to unfreeze your tankless water heater and prevent it from happening again. Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand, are energy efficient, have a longer lifespan, and require less space and maintenance. It is best not to neglect resolving any issues that could arise with them. So, read on and learn how to tackle the issue of freezing in tankless water heaters, why it happens, and how to stop it!

Understanding the Causes of Freezing in Tankless Water Heaters

Why Do They Freeze?

What could be the causes of freezing in tankless water heaters? After all, aren’t they supposed to be heaters? Luckily, we have some possible answers! One reason they freeze is the lack of constant water flow. They are unlike traditional water heaters that always maintain a reservoir of hot water. Tankless water heaters heat water on demand when there is an immediate need. This does help conserve energy, but it can be an issue when the weather gets cold. Because the water is not heated, the standing water can freeze inside the unit. This is bad because it blocks water flow and can damage parts inside of the tankless water heater. This can be exacerbated if the tankless water heater is installed in a poorly insulated area like an unheated garage or outside.

Freezing Symptoms

There are symptoms you cannot take care of when it comes to a frozen tankless water heater. For example, if you turn on a faucet and there is a lack of hot water. Since the arrival of hot water is supposed to be instantaneous, it will be an obvious sign something is wrong. Another sign is unusual noises. Frozen pipes can cause strange noises like banging and rattling due to the ice blocking water flow. Other freezing symptoms are diminished, inconsistent, or weak water flow. This is caused by ice blockage inside of the pipes. If your tankless water heater has any of these symptoms, you should immediately take steps to fix the issue. Don’t expect the issue to resolve itself.

Steps to Unfreeze Your Tankless Water Heater

Luckily, maintenance for water heaters is fairly minimal and straightforward. This includes the process of unfreezing your tankless water heater. We’ll easily be able to walk you through the necessary steps to unfreeze it. To start the unfreezing process, turn off our power and water supply. You can switch off your circuit breaker and close the water supply valve to avoid any issues. Next, you can open the nearest hot water faucet to allow any pressure build-up to escape. You can use a hair dryer or a space heater to warm the area around the heater and pipes. Keep your hand in constant motion to evenly distribute heat to avoid damaging your tankless water heater. For signs of successful unfreezing, you should check for thawing by monitoring the hot water faucet for signs of water flow. If you see water trickling out, the ice is melting. Depending on the severity of the freeze, it could take 15 minutes to an hour before everything is properly thawed. Once the water stops drinking, you can check to see if everything is properly thawed. Once everything looks in working order, you can turn the water supply valve back on and the circuit breaker.

Recognizing Signs of Freezing for Tankless Water Heater

How to Prevent Them From Freezing

Future steps you can take to freeze-proof your tankless water heater is to insulate it properly. Insulating it will help protect it from the cold. You can insulate the pipes connected to the heater using fiberglass or polyethylene. Another measure you can take is to drain standing water inside the tank when it is not in use. This applies if you are going away for a long time. Lastly, you could install a hot water recirculation system to keep hot water readily available in your pipes. Make sure that your system is compatible with this system installation.

Long-term Consequences

If you decide to ignore the issue of your frozen tankless water heater pipes, it can have many negative consequences. For example, the water that freezes inside the pipes will expand as it turns into ice. This will create immense pressure that will build up in the pipe, eventually leading to cracks or its complete bursting. When the pipe bursts, it can release a large amount of water, which can damage your walls, ceilings, and floors. The damage can also be more subtle and unnoticeable if the pipe only has small cracks and leaks. Water leakage can encourage mold growth and affect your home’s heating efficiency by compromising its insulation, leading to drafts or heat loss. All of these consequences will result in inefficiency, which will have a direct impact on your energy bills.

Conclusion

Now that you have learned about the cause of frozen tankless water heaters, how to fix the problem, and the consequences if you don’t, you should also be aware of when you might need someone to help fix your problem. For example, it is recommended to call a professional whenever you are unsure how to fix the problem. You might have difficulty locating the freeze, damage was already incurred, or your tankless water heater may still be under warranty.
Whatever the case, you should have a knowledgeable and understanding HVAC professional to help you out! That’s where we at Ambient Cooling and Heating can help you! You can trust us when it comes to a customer-centric approach, transparent pricing, and reliable service. Whether it is repair or replacement for your tankless water heater, we got you covered! You can contact us, and we guarantee a quick and satisfactory response!