Those living in cold regions would benefit greatly from tankless water heaters. No matter how cold it may be outside, all you have to do is plug in the heater, and you’ll have hot water immediately. But what if the heater itself gets frozen? It will not work at all. If you are worried about how you will get the water heater to work again, this article is all about showing the method of how to thaw a tankless water heater the right way.

Using tankless water heaters has become a norm since they provide numerous benefits over tank-type heaters. Consume less space and work efficiently; the problem starts when they get frozen. This is a common issue faced by homeowners.

Although many people get worried about it and consider replacement, it is not a problem. There is a method through which you can thaw the water heater, and it will function as it is used to. Remember that the tankless water heater can freeze even if it’s placed inside the house.

Having said that, thawing the heater is also necessary because if you leave it frozen, it can damage the components of the water heater and may also cause problems in the drainage system.

Having said that, let’s talk about how to thaw out the tankless water heater so that you can get hot water flowing again.

Thawing a tankless water heater

If your tankless water heater gets frozen, you shouldn’t operate it until you thaw it out. The process is easy, and you can do it without calling a professional. However, if you feel like it, you can take help from an experienced person.

Before we proceed, it is advised you confirm it is the water heater itself that is frozen and not the inlet or outlet pipes. You can verify this through inspection.

Secondly, it’s important to check if the pipes are not burst due to water expansion. If pipes are broken, the water will start to leak as you thaw.

Anyway, the procedure to defrost a tankless water heater is simple, and here is what you have to do.

1. Turn off the power/gas and the water supplied to the heater.
2. Detach the system if you don’t want to unfreeze it while it’s in place.
3. Now you need to melt it by supplying it. You can do this by different means. The preferred and safest method is to turn on the room heater.
4. Open the drain valve and let the water flow out.
5. If you aren’t detaching the system, you can take the portable heater close to the water heater, and it will do the trick.
6. Once done, check the heater for any damage or leaks.

This is how simple it is. All you need is to supply a bit of heat through any means feasible.

The process might be easier, but is there a way we can prevent the water heater from getting frozen in the first place? Well, you are just about to find it out below.

How to prevent a tankless water heater from freezing?

When the water heater is frozen, it stops working, and you won’t have any hot water available. The thawing process may seem simple, but why waste time and energy when you can keep the heater from getting frozen. Wants to know the secret; let’s talk it over.

• Install a tankless water heater in a warm place. For example, attach it to a wall that gets direct sunlight.
• Make sure that you maintain a continuous stream of water because if it’s standing still, it will definitely freeze out. For this, drain your water heater or use it on a regular basis.
• Insulation is among the best techniques to retain heat within a system. You can insulate the heater as well as the pipes.

So, these are a few tips to help your water heater to get frozen. These small steps will go a long way if followed accordingly.

Conclusion

A water heater is of no use if it cannot supply hot water when required. The outside temperature is critical as far as the working functionality of the water heater is concerned. Therefore, if the temperature gets too low, it is common for a tankless heater to get frozen. Not only will it stop working, but if you leave it unattended, it will damage the components. So, thaw out the water heater as soon as you detect it is frozen.