Winterize tankless water heater

[CedarCreekWoody]

In studying how to winterize I'm not clear on the tankless water heater. In watching YouTube videos there appears to be several types. My manual shows opening a drain and a filter. However the access panel appears to be factory sealed to the damper with silicon (this is a new camper). The panel on my camper is tall and oblong unlike the square ones in the videos. I want to be sure that I need to remove this panel before breaking the seal. This is the first time that I've seen an access panel sealed this way.

 

[Soundsailor]

In studying how to winterize I'm not clear on the tankless water heater. In watching YouTube videos there appears to be several types. My manual shows opening a drain and a filter. However the access panel appears to be factory sealed to the damper with silicon (this is a new camper). The panel on my camper is tall and oblong unlike the square ones in the videos. I want to be sure that I need to remove this panel before breaking the seal. This is the first time that I've seen an access panel sealed this way.

Could you send a picture of the access panel? It should be able to be opened. It's possible that someone sealed it with silicone, but I don't think that seal is needed.

 

[CedarCreekWoody]

Attached are photos.i mistakenly took the furnace panel for the water heater panel. I'm still not sure why it is sealed shut but that is another issue thar doesn't affect winterizing.
Now back to winterizing. I'm not seeing the drain plug or filter screen that is mentioned in the manual (and YouTube. ) Do you see what I need to drain to winterize this?

 

[CedarCreekWoody]

I downloaded and read the manual. It sounds as though there is no drain on this model, just blow out with air and add antifreeze. Am I reading this correctly?

 

[Soundsailor]

I downloaded and read the manual. It sounds as though there is no drain on this model, just blow out with air and add antifreeze. Am I reading this correctly?

That's what I'm seeing also. That looks like a good unit, and includes protection against freezing.

 

[coastn]

My guess is the first manual you read was for a Furrion tankless heater. You have a Girard and I hope that the second manual you downloaded was for that brand.

 

[CedarCreekWoody]

Yes, that is correct. I have a Girard. Apparently it does not require any special draining to winterize. Is that correct?

 

[Jomani]

The Furrion tankless water heaters have/had a couple of issues when winterizing. The first being the vortex water mixing chamber that holds a small amount of water in a bowl that can’t be blown out with air. The second issue is that the lowest point is the drain. If you don’t pull the drain plug while winterizing, the water sitting there can freeze - again, something that blowing the system out with air won’t remove that water.

Since your Girard doesn’t have a water mixing chamber or a low-point drain, air alone generally gets all the water out. It is also acceptable to pump antifreeze through it since the heat exchanger is copper. To be 100% sure, you could momentarily open the pressure relief valve while blowing it out with air, and/or filling it with antifreeze just to be sure.

 

[CedarCreekWoody]

Good suggestion. Thanks

The Furrion tankless water heaters have/had a couple of issues when winterizing. The first being the vortex water mixing chamber that holds a small amount of water in a bowl that can’t be blown out with air. The second issue is that the lowest point is the drain. If you don’t pull the drain plug while winterizing, the water sitting there can freeze - again, something that blowing the system out with air won’t remove that water.

Since your Girard doesn’t have a water mixing chamber or a low-point drain, air alone generally gets all the water out. It is also acceptable to pump antifreeze through it since the heat exchanger is copper. To be 100% sure, you could momentarily open the pressure relief valve while blowing it out with air, and/or filling it with antifreeze just to be sure.

 

[fixajet]

Attached are photos.i mistakenly took the furnace panel for the water heater panel. I'm still not sure why it is sealed shut but that is another issue thar doesn't affect winterizing.
Now back to winterizing. I'm not seeing the drain plug or filter screen that is mentioned in the manual (and YouTube. ) Do you see what I need to drain to winterize this?

 

[fixajet]

I have the Girard GSWH-2 as well. This is my first year with this type of water heater. All I did was that I took off the cold and hot water lines on the back of the water heater and blew air through the pressure relief valve until all the water that was in it came out the back through the 2 lines I took off. (about enough to get a paper towel wet). I didn't use any anti-freeze so I guess I'll find out in the spring if Im buying a new water heater or not.

 

[BillandLisa]

see this thread for a check list and detailed description of where water gets stuck with photo backups. Winterizing Tankless Water Heater (Using Nautilus Panel)