Anything need to be done to shield or protect a tankless water heater from freezing temps? (This unit opens on an outside south wall.) TIA (cross posted on Home Improvement)
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Tankless Water Heater and the Freeze
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Last: 6 days ago by AG1996
FB post from JBG Plumbing.milner79 said:
Anything need to be done to shield or protect a tankless water heater from freezing temps? (This unit opens on an outside south wall.) TIA (cross posted on Home Improvement)
EDIT: What the guy below me said.
I have had them for 22 years mounted on outside wall. They will freeze up at some point- hard to say when. At 25 or below I drip enough to run water through them but not enough to trigger the heat. That has worked every time.
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A) Wake up every 60 or 90 minutes, run hot water full tilt in tub or sink. Run for about 45 seconds and go back to sleep. You do not want water freezing within the tank.
B) Know that the internal "heat protections" are minor and barely useful.
C) Repairing is near impossible. Identification of the issue. Technical skills. Parts availability.
D) There is zero insulation on these units. The front cover that you remove is about 1/8" thick. The other three sides are slightly protected since it sits in the cabinet.
E) Make sure any exposed pipes are covered.
I have heard of people putting in old school Christmas lights to help warm the area. No comment on that.
B) Know that the internal "heat protections" are minor and barely useful.
C) Repairing is near impossible. Identification of the issue. Technical skills. Parts availability.
D) There is zero insulation on these units. The front cover that you remove is about 1/8" thick. The other three sides are slightly protected since it sits in the cabinet.
E) Make sure any exposed pipes are covered.
I have heard of people putting in old school Christmas lights to help warm the area. No comment on that.
Go buy pipe insulation for 3/4" pipe. Use the best you can on both the cold and hot water lines. Tape up joints with the black rubber insulation tape. I'll snap a pic of mine. Did both water heaters in half an hour. The main unit should have freeze protection.