Hey everyone! I'm a new homeowner and have been living in our rebuilt house for about a year. We have a Rinnai tankless water heater that's just a year old, but lately, it's been continuously cycling (turning the gas on and off) every 10 seconds even when we're not using any hot water. We haven't changed any settings recently, but we've had a few power outages. Is there a setting we can adjust to fix this? I'm a bit worried about the sound since it seems like it can't be good for the unit. Thanks for any insights you can provide!
3 Answers
Make sure to check the air intake and exhaust for any clogs! Bugs or debris can block it and cause issues. Also, if you have hard water and haven't descaled the unit in a while, that could definitely lead to problems. You might still be under warranty, so calling a pro could give you some peace of mind. Plus, it's a good chance to learn about the maintenance too! Descaling is pretty easy with the right supplies, and you can totally do it yourself next time!
It sounds like your flow sensor might be the issue. Sometimes it can incorrectly detect water flow even when there's none, or it could be too sensitive to a small leak. This causes the heater to keep turning on and off. It would be a good idea to check if it's really a sensor problem or if there’s something else affecting it.
Another thing to consider is whether you have a recirculating system. If it’s designed to keep hot water readily available, it might need to cycle periodically to maintain temperature. Just something to keep in mind as you're troubleshooting!
Thanks for the tip about descaling! I've seen YouTube tutorials but never tried it. Definitely saving on plumbing costs sounds great!