EXTREME WEATHER WARNING — POWER OUTAGES EXPECTED — OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES BELOW 30°F
Freeze Protection Guide
Cold Weather Prep for Your Tankless System
When outside temperatures drop to 30°F or below, you must take action to protect your tankless water heater. Follow these steps carefully — failure to do so voids your warranty.
Stream Hot Water All Night Long
When the outside temperature is 30°F or below, you must stream hot water so the tankless unit operates at its lowest setting to prevent any components from freezing.
The tankless unit has a built-in heater to protect internal piping. However, it does not protect any other components attached to the tankless system as installed. Streaming water is mandatory whether your electricity is on or off.
If this is not followed, the warranty is null and void.
— If your power is out, continue to follow these instructions. Stop streaming when outside temperatures reach 32°F or above.
Step-by-Step Protection
Prepare for Cold Weather
Step 1 — Stream Hot Water
Open a hot water faucet to a slow, steady stream. This keeps the tankless unit firing at its lowest setting and prevents internal components from freezing. Keep the water streaming all night long whenever temperatures are at or below 30°F.
Step 2 — Wrap the Pan & Filter Housing
Wrap the drain pan and filter housing in a blanket. This provides an extra layer of insulation for the components that the unit's built-in heater does not protect. Use any thick blanket or moving blanket — the goal is to trap ambient heat around the housing.
Step 3 — Protect the Exterior Drain Pipe (Below 25°F)
When temperatures drop below 25°F, you must protect the tankless drain pan's drain pipe located outside your house. Freezing takes place at the point where water exits the pipe — ice forms at ground level and rises to block condensate flow from the pan.
Heat Tape Is the Only Thing That Works
Wrap heat tape around the exterior drain pipe. Even if your drain pipe is only a few inches long, this will work. Place the plug on a timer set to run from 8 PM to 11 AM.
Recommended product: HEATIT Water Pipe Heat Tape — CSA & ETL Certified Heat Trace Cable, 3ft, 7w/ft, 120V. Available on Amazon.
FIND ON AMAZONAlso insulate the drain pipe with regular pipe insulation (available at any big box store). Heat tape must be covered with pipe insulation to work correctly.
If Your Power Is Out
Power Outage During Freeze
If your power goes out during a freeze event, continue to follow all of the instructions above. Streaming water is mandatory whether your electricity is on or off. The built-in heater will not function without power, making the blanket wrap and heat tape even more critical.
VIEW FULL POWER OUTAGE GUIDE →Away from Home in Winter?
Extended Absence During Cold Weather
If you will be away from home for an extended time during winter months — with the possibility of electrical power failure — you must follow all of the steps above and take these additional precautions:
- 1Drain the water from the tankless unit completely.
- 2Remove the lower filter housing and cartridge.
- 3Ensure heat tape is installed and on a timer.
- 4Wrap the pan and filter housing area in a blanket.
Warranty Notice: Your warranty does not cover a frozen tankless unit or filter housing. See warranty terms for full details.
Quick Reference — Temperature Thresholds
Need Help?
Questions About Freeze Protection?
If you're unsure about any of these steps or need assistance, submit a service request form.