What Does DHW Wait Mean In a Navien Water Heater?

Navien water heaters have some really useful features that make them very popular. One of the features is the “DHW Wait” time.

So, what does “DHW Wait” mean in a Navien water heater?

“DHW Wait” in a Navien water heater refers to the duration that the water heater maintains the domestic hot water supply mode. It is the time period during which the water heater keeps the hot water ready for use after you have demanded hot water. The default DHW wait time for Navien water heaters is 5 minutes, but it can be adjusted up to 20 minutes to suit your hot water needs.

Let’s explore what “DHW Wait” means in your Naiven water heater and what purpose it serves+ in the following section.

What Does “DHW Wait” Mean In a Navien Water Heater?

DHW wait time refers to the duration that the Navien water heater maintains the domestic hot water supply mode. In short, it’s the amount of time the water heater keeps the hot water ready and available for use after you’ve demanded hot water.

By default, Navien water heaters have a DHW wait time of 5 minutes. This means that if you use hot water and then need it again within 5 minutes, you’ll get hot water almost instantly. That’s because the water heater will still have some hot water stored and ready to go. But if you need hot water after 5 minutes of using hot water again, you will not get the hot water instantly. 

The good thing is, you can adjust the DHW wait time on the Navien water heater to be anywhere between 0 and 20 minutes. The longer you set the DHW wait time, the longer the water heater will keep the hot water ready for use. This can be useful for households with high demand for hot water.

Once the set time elapses, the Navien water heater will switch the 3-way valve to space heating mode. Meaning that the water heater will prioritize heating the home instead of maintaining the DHW supply mode.

This feature is not very common among heaters. Only a few of the best tankless heaters have this impressive option.

Source: John Sadler

How Can I Get Hot Water Faster From My Tankless Water Heater? 

Not getting hot water fast enough is a common problem faced by many people, especially during the colder months. Fortunately, there are several solutions available that can help you get hot water faster in the shower and at the kitchen sink.

• Insulate the Pipes: Adding insulation to your water pipes can help keep the heat in and prevent heat loss. This means your hot water will stay hotter as it travels through the pipes, resulting in faster delivery of hot water to your fixtures. Insulated pipes can also reduce mold growth and make your plumbing quieter.

• Hot Water Recirculation Pump: A hot water recirculating system circulates unused hot water back to the heater, which reduces the wait time for hot water at your fixtures.

This not only saves you time, but it can also save water, energy, and money. Recirculation pumps can be installed either in the water heater or at the furthest fixture in your home, depending on the design of your plumbing system.

For this, knowing how to wire a tankless heater would come in handy.

• Replace Fixtures with a Higher Flow Rate: If you’re experiencing low hot water pressure due to fixtures with a low flow rate, replacing them with fixtures that have a higher flow rate can be a simple solution. Keep in mind, however, that higher flow rate fixtures will use more water and may result in higher water bills.

• Routine Preventative Maintenance: Preventative maintenance is focused on catching issues early or stopping them entirely before they turn into major problems.

Having a service professional perform routine maintenance on your water heater can help catch issues early and extend the life of your system. For water heaters that are nearing or have passed their intended life span, this is especially important.

Source: Just Answer

How to Increase “DHW Wait” Time?

To increase the DHW wait time on a Navien water heater, follow these steps:

• Press the “Menu” button on the front panel of the water heater.
• Use the arrow buttons to navigate to the “Function Set” menu, then press the “OK” button.
• Navigate to the “DHW” menu and press “OK”.
• Navigate to the “DHW Recirculation” menu and press “OK”.
• Use the arrow buttons to select the desired DHW wait time, up to a maximum of 20 minutes.
• Press “OK” to save the new setting.

Once the new setting is saved, the Navien water heater will maintain the hot water supply for the selected DHW wait time before switching to space heating mode. Navien has different types of heaters, the process may be different based on specific models. So, for the exact process, it’s best to refer to the owner’s manual.

It’s better to mention that, this space heating option comes with the Navien Combi-Boilers, which are a combination of space heaters and boilers. This is also a remarkable feature as space heaters can cost quite a bit. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Why is my Navien hot water not flowing?

The Navien water heater’s hot water not flowing issue may be due to the flow sensor inside the unit not spinning properly. One solution that can be tried is to open and close the pressure relief valve located near the outlet of the unit. This may temporarily help if there is debris affecting the flow sensor.

How long does it take a Navien to heat up?

The start-up time for a Navien unit is generally quite fast, and the water leaving the unit can reach the desired set temperature within 5-10 seconds. This means that you should be able to enjoy hot water very quickly after turning on the tap or shower.

What is the process for resetting my Navien water heater?

Navien water heaters can be reset by pressing the RESET button on the front control panel. This button is usually located near the display screen, and it may be labeled as “RESET” or simply display a circular arrow symbol. Once you press the button, the water heater should restart and begin operating normally again.

What is the lifespan of a Navien?

The lifespan of a Navien boiler can be up to 20 years or longer in some cases, provided that it is well-maintained and installed properly in a suitable system. It is important to note, however, that the actual lifespan can differ depending on several factors.

Conclusion

So, what does DHW wait mean in a Navien water heater? It refers to the period that the Navien water heater maintains the domestic hot water supply mode. 

This feature ensures that hot water is readily available for use even after recent hot water usage. But after the set time elapses, the water heater prioritizes space heating mode. 

Knowing how to adjust the DHW wait time on a Navien water heater can help households with high hot water demand better manage their hot water supply.