Protect Your Rinnai Product During Extreme Cold Temperatures

In many parts of the country, extreme cold temperatures are expected over the coming days. At Rinnai, our customers are at the forefront of everything we do, and as such we want to ensure you are well informed about your tankless water heater. 

Tankless water heaters can be more susceptible to freezing because they do not store a large volume of heated water. Following are some general precautions to take when temperatures drop below freezing.

* Maintain Power to the Unit: Ensure continuous power supply to the tankless water heater. This will allow its built-in freeze protection features to function, as many units have internal sensors to prevent freezing when powered on.

* Insulate Exposed Pipes: Any pipes running outside or in unheated areas should be insulated, ideally using traditional pipe or fiber insulation. If unavailable, pipes can be insulated by wrapping with Styrofoam or towels. Since the unit itself is protected while powered, it's the external pipes that are vulnerable to freezing.

* Check Ventilation and Drain Lines: Blockages caused by snow or ice can obstruct the vent termination or condensate drain, leading to potential operational issues or damage. Ensure these areas are clear.

* Power Outages: The following is a general procedure for draining your tankless water heater in the event of power loss. If power is lost your unit will not function or have any information on the controller. Please refer to the installation and operation instructions.

  1. Shut off cold water supply and gas supply.
  2. Turn off the controller.
  3. Disconnect the power to the water heater.
  4. Close the hot and cold isolation valves.
  5. Open the pressure relief valve (PRV) lever.
  6. Open the hot and cold drain valves.
  7. Remove the condensate trap drain plug and allow to drain. (If applicable)
  8. Remove the pump drain. (If applicable) 

We hope you and your family stay safe during this inclement weather and that you find this information helpful. For additional information or assistance, please use the customer chat at the bottom right of this website page.