How to reset tankless water heater in 2022 – Complete Guide

You may have instances where you had a problem and called a plumber. The plumber came, tinkers with the most common things, reset the unit, and charged you many dollars. That is why you must do some research and save your hard-earned money. Although resetting a tankless water heater can work many times, there is a sequence to things. Constantly resetting your tankless water heater can be similar to whipping a horse to make it run faster. Except, the fact remains that the underlying problem has not disappeared. Therefore, you need to look for the issue and take proper action. Solving the problem comes first. If all else fails, you can try resetting your tankless water heater.

Let’s discuss “How to reset tankless water heater”

Tankless Water Heater Reset button

A reset button on a tankless water heater starts the unit and has another function. It acts as a safety feature that trips and shutdowns the unit if water gets too hot or a frequent power failure.  It turn-off the unit and prevents it from possible harm that may come to it if it had continued to run.

Now, there are three common ways of resetting a tankless water heater.

The first way is to reset the tankless unit is using the red button.

The second common way of resetting is to turn off the unit using the power off button, keep it off for 5-10 minutes, and then turn it on.

The third way is using the thermostat buttons to reset the tankless water heater.

Most of the time, a tankless water heater reset button is a red button that you can use to reset it after it trips and shutdowns. It is usually on the display screen, but you may need to remove the panel to view it. The reset button usually works fine, although sometimes, it may work on a press and hold basis.  In some cases, in combination with the lower temperature button.

By consulting the owner’s manual, you can know the best way to reset your tankless is. If you have misplaced your owner manual and can’t remember where you put it, you can always seek it up online.

Why does a tankless water heater need to be reset?

1.      Broken Thermostat

The tankless water heater reset button may trip if the water in the tankless unit gets too hot or may damage the heat exchanger. Usually, a thermostat tells a tankless unit when to heat the water and to which temperature it should be heated. If the thermostat fails to perform its function, the tankless unit will keep on heating the water to a higher temperature. This will continue to go on until water temperature reaches 180°. The reset switch will detect it to protect the tankless unit.

Now, you can reset the tankless water heater to get the unit running, but you will face the same problem after some time. Therefore, replacing the thermostat is the correct way to pursue it. Check for your tankless unit warranty for part replacement instead of purchasing it from your pocket.

2.      Heating element crack

If there is a crack in the heating element, the live wires connected to the element may be exposed to the water. In this case, the water may keep on heating even if the thermostat tries to shut the heating element. In this case, the heating element continues to operate even if the thermostat attempts to cut the power. Hence, the water temperature rises beyond the fixed temperature. After some time, the reset button may trip to kill the power to protect the unit. You can restart the unit by using the reset button, but it will continue tripping until replacing the heating element.

3.    Electrical issue

If there is a crack in the heating element, the live wires connected to the element may be exposed to the water. In this case, the water may keep on heating even if the thermostat tries to shut the heating element. In this case, the heating element continues to operate even if the thermostat attempts to cut the power. Hence, the water temperature rises beyond the fixed temperature. After some time, the reset button may trip to kill the power to protect the unit. You can restart the unit by using the reset button, but it will continue tripping until replacing the heating element.

4. Error Codes

A tankless water heater has two components. The first part is the computer part (shown in the LCD screen), and the second part is the remaining unit (heat exchanger, fan, vents, etc.). Similar to a computer, a tankless unit can show error codes if it runs into any problem. That is why error codes are convenient in locating the issues of a tankless water heater. The latest tankless models come with error codes that tell you whether a tankless water heater is experiencing any problem.

The error codes of tankless water heaters are highly versatile and can help you find minor problems. These codes can tell when there are any water leaks; water temperature is too hot, the heat exchanger is working or not, blockage in the supply lines, the tankless thermostat is working or not, etc. These codes are quite diverse and may differ from brand to brand. The best way to know which error codes mean is to consult your owner manual. Some of some errors you can solve yourself, while others need a technician or plumber assistance. Similarly, you can resolve some of these errors codes by resetting the tankless water heater.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do tankless water heaters have a reset button?

Yes, nearly all tankless water heaters have a reset button. This reset button is an essential part of a tankless system as it acts as a safety mechanism. It protects the unit from damage due to water getting too hot by shutting it as water temperature increases to a specific temperature limit. Where water temperature exceeding this limit can damage the tankless unit.

Where is the reset button on a Rinnai tankless water heater?

The Rinnai tankless water heater’s power button can be used to reset it. However, before you do so, first drain all the water in the unit. The proper way to do so is to close the cold-water valve while keeping the hot-water valve open. Drain the unit’s hot water using any fixture. After this, turn the unit on and off twice using the power on/off button. Wait for a minute or two and then open the cold-water valve. Check whether you are receiving warm water or not. If yes, you have successfully reset the Rinnai tankless water heater. If it does not work, you may have to repeat it a couple of times.

What happens if you don’t flush your tankless water heater?

If you do not flush the tankless water heater unit, it will keep on accumulating scalp and sediment inside it. The accumulated sediment will deposit on the heat exchanger. This, in turn, prevents heat transfer from the heat exchange

Conclusion

How to reset tankless water heater in 2022 is relatively easy; the only difficult thing about it could be locating the reset button. A tankless water heater reset button may be on the display screen, near the thermostat, or inside the circuit, for which you may need to remove the panel. Once found, all you need to do is press it; you may have to hold it for some time. The reason being that some tankless water heaters come with an accidental press feature, which does not recognize a single press but a press and hold command. If none of this works, you can press the reset button in combination with the thermostat button to reset the tankless unit. If everything else fails, the defective reset button may need to be replaced.


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Emma Johnson
By Emma Johnson

Hi, This is Emma. Author at “BestHeaterGuide.com”. I am a graduate of Mechanical Engineering. Currently researching on heating technology. However, I have learned many home heating techniques and still learning home heating technology. And I love to share my research and reviews.

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