Have you noticed a decrease in hot water flow? Have you flushed your tankless water heater recently? If not, the decrease could be caused by a build-up of scale within the heater.
Manufacturers usually recommend their units be flushed out and cleaned once a year. This will remove any build-up of minerals such as calcium. It’s an easy job if done with the right equipment, so let’s check out some of the best flushing kits.
What Is a Tankless Water Heater Flush Kit?
A tankless water heater flush kit enables you to flush your unit without needing to pay for maintenance. It will help to keep your unit running smoothly so you can continue to enjoy hot water — and a small energy bill. But, before you run out to buy a kit, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
A flush kit consists of all the things you need to clean your unit successfully. While several types are available, they should all come with the right parts.
These are hoses, bucket or tank, and a pump. Some kits will also come with a guide to help you figure out how to use it.
Do I Need One?
If you have a tankless water heater, a flushing kit could prove to be a good investment. They’re fairly easy to figure out and can make the process easier and faster. How often you need to flush your heater depends on local water quality — it could be every six months, or annually (1).
Calling for professional help whenever you need to descale your unit can become expensive in the long haul. Although flushing kits aren’t cheap either, they can pay for themselves after a while. If you’re a do-it-yourself type of person, we’re certain this will come in handy.
Compared to regular heaters, a tankless water heater is more vulnerable to mineral build-up. Also, in regular tank water heaters, the build-up usually happens at the bottom of the tank, which shouldn’t compromise the functionality of the unit.
In a tankless unit, however, the build-up forces the unit to work even harder. This could damage the components of the heater (2).
Water quality can be measured by hardness. The hardness comes from the minerals present in the water (calcium and magnesium) (3).
The harder the water, the higher the chance of build-up. If you live in an area with soft water, you may not need to flush the unit as often. But, if you live in an area with hard water, you should flush your heater at least once a year.
A good quality flushing kit will be able to fight through all types of build-ups. The pump has to be strong, and you might need to purchase a specialized solution.
Important Features of a Flush Kit
A good flushing kit typically has two main features. These aren’t requirements, but if you want to find the best kit, they’re worth considering.
1. Comes with the Right Parts
For the best performance, a flush kit has to come with the right parts. The best type of kit will come with a fairly large tank or bucket. This could be anything between 3 and 5 gallons.
The bucket will hold the cleaning solution. You can buy specialized cleaning solutions, or you can use white vinegar.
A submersible pump is another important feature of a kit. The pump is submerged in the bucket and helps to circulate the cleaning solution throughout the heater. This also makes for a great kit because you’re sure the pump will fit the bucket.
The last essential part of a kit is two long hoses. These should ideally be 5 feet long so you can easily connect the kit to the heater unit.
All these parts are designed to help you easily clean the internal parts of the heater. You can also use a garden hose, a bucket, and a separate pump. However, it might make the job a little more complicated since you have to make sure everything fits.
2. Can Be Used on All Types of Units
Another important feature of a flush kit is that it is a universal kit that can be used on all heater models. Purchasing a kit and then finding out it won’t work on your unit can be frustrating — not to mention, a wasted expense.
Similar to regular tank water heaters, a tankless can be powered by gas or electricity. A good kit will be able to work on either of these.
The Best Tankless Water Heater Flush Kits of 2020
While searching for our top three products, we got expert recommendations and looked through popular, user-friendly products. The flushing kits we’ve included below are easy to figure out and to use. Let’s check them out.
1. My Plumbingstuff Flushing Kit
If you’re new to flushing your tankless water heater, this kit might just make the job a little easier. It comes with everything you need to quickly set the kit up and get started.
The kit comes with a 5-gallon first-grade plastic bucket. It also comes with two 5-foot hoses which are easy to connect directly to the valves. The hoses have specialized “ports” which enables you to connect them to pipes without needing to disconnect the unit.
The pump is a Zoeller floor sucker pump. Zoeller pumps are super strong and durable — it can even be used fully or only partially submerged.
With the kit, you will also receive instructions on how to get started as well as technical details.
The kit also includes a quart of Flow-Aide System Descaler. The descaler is a strong, environmentally-friendly solution which acts fast at getting rid of any build-up in the unit.
- Large bucket.
- Strong pump.
- Hoses can easily be attached.
- Kit includes a descaler solution.
- Instructions could be more detailed.
Why We Love It
Large Bucket
The bucket is the perfect size for the amount of cleaning solution you’ll need. It also fits well to all types of tankless water heaters. It’s advised that you use 4 gallons of solution in the bucket.
Strong Pump
The pump is small but strong, and can be used even if it’s not fully submerged. Many users praised the pump, saying it is top quality.
Hoses Can Easily Be Attached
The hoses are strong and durable with a steel outer casing. Customers were very pleased with how easily they attached.
Kit Includes a Descaling Solution
You get a quart (32 ounces) of Flow-Aide System Descaler. The descaler is a non-hazardous, biodegradable solution which dissolves scale, rust, mud, and lime.
Keep In Mind
Instructions Could Be More Detailed
Customers commented on the instructions, saying they felt it was missing some steps. Others said it wasn’t detailed enough. Many mentioned they found instructional videos online or used other guides.
Additional Specs
| Weight | 14.5 pounds |
| Hose length | 5 feet |
| Size | Full size |
| Bucket capacity | 5 gallons |
2. J.C Whitlam Flow-Kit
If you’re looking for a flushing kit which to use for more than just your tankless water heater, this is it. The kit includes two rubber hoses, a pump, 3.5-gallon bucket, and a Flow-Aide System Descaler.
The bucket isn’t as large as we’d like, but it still does the job smoothly. And, the descaler is very strong but safe for the environment; you don’t need to use a lot.
The kit comes with a 350 GPH pump. GPH means gallons per hour, so you can imagine how quickly it will get the job done. However, it’s a rather small pump, although it fits great into the small bucket.
You can use the kit with multiple other appliances, such as heat exchangers, vacuum pumps, and ice machines. It quickly dissolves and removes lime, scale, rust, and other potential types of build-up. Then, it restores the efficiency of your tankless water heater so you can continue to save energy.
- The kit includes a descaler.
- Strong pump.
- Can be used on several appliances.
- Consumers were not too happy about the hoses.
Why We Love It
The Kit Includes a Descaler
The descaler included is the same as our top product. You get 32 ounces of the Flow-Aide System Descaler. It works fast at removing any type of build-up within your unit, and is non-toxic and eco-friendly.
Strong Pump
The 350 GPH pump is small but mighty. It will quickly get your cleaning solution from the bucket and through the unit. Customers were very pleased with the quality.
Can Be Used on Several Appliances
If you have multiple appliances which require flushing or cleaning, this could be worth the investment. You won’t have to purchase separate kits, pumps or hoses just to do the same job on a different appliance.
Keep In Mind
The Hoses Aren’t as Durable as Expected
The hoses are made of rubber, and they aren’t as durable as we’d like. Some customers complained of them leaking. Others said they only leaked if they weren’t attached properly.
Additional Specs
| Weight | 8.6 pounds |
| Hose length | 5 feet |
| Size | 15 x 10 x 15 inches |
| Bucket capacity | 3.5 gallons |
3. Rheem Tankless Water Heater Flush Kit
If you’re looking for a kit which is easy to set up, you might just love this. The kit includes easy-to-follow instructions to help you get started.
You also get a pump, two hoses, and a bucket. The bucket will hold 5 gallons — perfect for any cleaning solution you might use. Many customers revealed they only used about 2 gallons of white vinegar, and some even reused it another time.
The hoses are made of rubber but they connect easily to the isolation valves of the tankless heater. Again, customers weren’t too happy about the rubber hoses, as they felt they resembled washing machine hoses.
The pump will circulate 7 gallons per minute through the heater to get rid of all the scale and lime. This kit is compatible with all types of tankless water heaters. And, it could even help to prolong the life of your heater, as it cleans it out very well.
- Easy instructions.
- Connects easily.
- Large bucket.
- No need to purchase specialized solutions.
- Rubber hoses were a problem for a few customers.
Why We Love It
Easy Instructions
Customers praised the kit for the detailed and easy-to-read instructions. While most kits come with a guide, they tend to be missing something. You don’t have to worry about that with this one.
Connects Easily
You can get the flushing started quickly since the hoses connect easily to the valves. Customers even said they were surprised at how quickly they got started.
Large Bucket
The bucket, which holds 5 gallons, is great for cleaning since you can fit a good amount of solution in there. Customers have said they used about 4 gallons of vinegar and ran the pump for about an hour.
No Need to Purchase Specialized Solutions
This kit was designed for vinegar use only, and it does a great job. This means you can save money by not purchasing a specialized cleaning solution. White vinegar is an inexpensive pantry staple in most homes since it has so many uses.
Keep In Mind
Rubber Hoses Could Be a Problem
Some reviewers had a few complaints about the quality of the hoses. They didn’t leak, but customers felt it was overpriced.
Additional Specs
| Weight | 13.35 pounds |
| Hose length | N/A |
| Size | 15.4 x 12.7 x 12.4 inches |
| Bucket capacity | 5 gallons |
Detailed Comparison
| Product | Award | Weight | Hose length | Size | Bucket capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Plumbingstuff | Best Pump | 14.5 lbs | 5′ | Full size | 5 gal |
| J.C Whitlam | Best For Multiple Uses | 8.6 lbs | 5′ | 15″ x 10″ x 15″ | 3.5 gal |
| Rheem Tankless | Best Easy Setup | 13.35 lbs | N/A | 15.4″ x 12.7″ x 12.4″ | 5 gal |
Clearing the Pipes
There you have it, our top three best tankless water heater flush kits. Before purchasing a kit, remember to check if it comes with all the parts — you need a pump, bucket, and hoses. It’s also good to make sure the kit can be used on all types of tankless heaters, gas and electric.
Hopefully, you have found the kit for you within our top choices. If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below.
