Flushing tankless water heater

Exile_D

Exile_D

benevolent tyrant
Charter Life Member
Benefactor
Joined
Dec 17, 2016
Messages
8,719
Location
On an accident prone boat (CLT)
Rating - 100%
21   0   0
Who here flushes their own tankless water heater? We have a gas Rinnai and have had it "professionally" maintained by the original installers until recently. They barely answer their phone or return vm's and have stopped following through on appointments. :(
I know this should be a fairly straight forward DIY, but I don't want to mess it up and have to repair/replace it.

Is there a preferred flush kit to buy?

Our previous guys would also clean/service the burners, but that doesn't seem like a DIY job. Does anyone do that themselves also?
 
Go to Rinnai's site and download the instructions. Some call for a vinegar mixture. It goes a long way if you document it for any warranty issues.
 
I do my own, want to borrow the bucket, pump and hoses?

My Rinnai gets flushed with 4 gal of vinegar as per the instructions.

When I bought mine I paid in advance for 7 services. Guy sold the business, new owner told me to pound sand.

The burners don’t need service as far as I know.
 
Last edited:
It's easy, assuming you have the isolation valves. A bucket, two washing machine hoses and a pony pump. Few gallons of white vinegar. Let it cycle through for an hour.

Burners shouldn't have to be cleaned as long as it's been burning right. As long as your gas pressures are correct and no one messed with the factory settings.

They don't like hard water or softened water. City water doesn't seem to bother them. I had one in my last house that I had bought used. It was around 15 years old before I had to flush it.

I just picked one up yesterday. That's today's job.
 
I need to do this. I'm on a well with 7.0ph water that's high in calcium, minerals and shale dust.
Have you noticed a difference?
 
GymB said:
I do my own, want to borrow the bucket, pump and hoses?

My Rinnai gets flushed with 4 gal of vinegar as per the instructions.

When I bought mine I paid in advance for 7 services. Guy sold the business, new owner told me to pound sand.

The burners don’t need service as far as I know.
Click to expand...


I always thought that someone who bought a business bought not only the assets of said business but the liabilities as well. I would think any contracts made by the previous owner would now be the responsibility of the new owner.
 
Schattenreiter said:
I always thought that someone who bought a business bought not only the assets of said business but the liabilities as well. I would think any contracts made by the previous owner would now be the responsibility of the new owner.
Click to expand...
You’re correct but it’ll take a court to enforce it. Not really worth the effort when you can buy the supplies for <$100 and 4gal of vinegar each time.
 
I do my own. It’s simpler than I initially thought it would be. 5 gal bucket, some washer hoses, a pump, and 3-4gal of vinegar.

OP is welcome to borrow my kit if I’m closer than @GymB.
 
Jerzsubbie said:
You’re correct but it’ll take a court to enforce it. Not really worth the effort when you can buy the supplies for <$100 and 4gal of vinegar each time.
Click to expand...


Principle man, principle.

Besides crappy reviews for the new owner can go a long ways at convincing him to honor his commitment.
 
Schattenreiter said:
Principle man, principle.

Besides crappy reviews for the new owner can go a long ways at convincing him to honor his commitment.
Click to expand...
I find the quality of work done by most people to be barely acceptable most of the time, forcing them won’t improve that.

It is also possible to purchase just the assets of a company. In that case you’re stuck suing the prior owner for cash. Either way, it’s more effort than its worth.
 
Thank you for the offers @GymB and @Jerzsubbie ! I unfortunately just paid Brothers to do it (like a sucker) because I was under the impression the burners had to be serviced every time as well.
Now that I know they don't though, I will get some hoses and a pump so I can do it when needed.

Is there a particular pump that is a reliable one to buy?
 
I just bought a cheap sump pump with bottom intake, no metal parts that aren’t stainless.
 
Schattenreiter said:
Principle man, principle.

Besides crappy reviews for the new owner can go a long ways at convincing him to honor his commitment.
Click to expand...
Exactly… don’t be ashamed about putting the name of crappy businesses out to your friends.

just like friends don’t let friends drive drunk,
friends don’t let friends get screwed by poor/bad businesses.
 
There needs to be a section for shady business to be identified… for example.

Over the weekend I ordered a new trackball for my computer from CKB Depot in Charlotte.
the first credit card didn’t go thru so I used our backup card.
I didn’t get an email conformation number so I called them this AM.

The telephone number connects to a travel agency in Monroe NC and there is no way to talk with a real person.
I called the second card company and the charge had not been posted so I cancelled it and am getting new cards.
I’m now checking the second card for charges.

CKB Depot at 2520 Whitehall Park Dr in Charlotte seems to a fraud..
 
I think ice machine cleaner would do a better job of removing scale if circulated for an hour.
 
BlackGun said:
I think ice machine cleaner would do a better job of removing scale if circulated for an hour.
Click to expand...
Probably, I wish they’d just put their name on one and sell it to us rather than telling us that we’re voiding our warranty if we use anything but vinegar. Not sure we can even use high percentage vinegar.

Same problem with my ice maker, they insist on vinegar (Opal machine, prior to being acquired by GE).
 
GymB said:
Probably, I wish they’d just put their name on one and sell it to us rather than telling us that we’re voiding our warranty if we use anything but vinegar. Not sure we can even use high percentage vinegar.

Same problem with my ice maker, they insist on vinegar (Opal machine, prior to being acquired by GE).
Click to expand...
They have no way of knowing what you clean with. Ice machine cleaner is made for scaling deposits.
 
BlackGun said:
They have no way of knowing what you clean with. Ice machine cleaner is made for scaling deposits.
Click to expand...
Is there any difference if the coils are aluminum vs copper? Not that I know what’s in either my water heater or my ice maker.

Have a brand you like, or they all about the same?
 
No specific brand. Ice machines have copper, aluminum, and stainless. It’s good for all three. A bootle can be ordered off Amazon or at local United Refrigeration locations. Food safe after a good flush.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom