Troubleshooting
Guide
5|
Page
3.
NORMAL
OPERATION
Becoming
familiar
with
how
a
tankless
water
heater
normally
operates
may
help
to
figure
out
what
is
wrong
with
it.
Assuming
it
is
properly
installed
with
appropriate
gas,
water,
and
electric
connections,
the
following
is
how
it
should
operate:
1)
ACTIVATION
a.
A
hot
water
tap
is
opened
enough
that
the
flow
sensor
detects
a
flow
rate
through
the
heater
greater
than
the
activation
point
of
0.75
gpm.
b.
The
fan
activates
after
flow
is
detected.
c.
The
computer
checks
for
any
problems
with
the
unit
before
startup.
d.
Igniter
activates.
You
can
hear
the
buzzing
of
the
spark
igniter.
e.
Main
gas
valve,
proportional
valve,
and
solenoid
gas
valves
will
open.
You
will
hear
a
deep
“clunk
clunk”
noise.
f.
Once
a
flame
is
detected,
the
red
LED
located
on
the
computer
board
will
activate.
g.
In
a
multi
‐
heater
setup,
the
controller
will
activate
the
next
heater
in
2
‐
4
gpm
increments,
depending
on
the
set
temperature.
2)
OPERATION
a.
The
proportional
gas
valve
will
modulate
based
on
the
amount
of
hot
water
demanded
and
the
temperature
rise
needed.
The
fan
speed
will
modulate
as
well
to
create
an
efficient
burn.
b.
You
will
notice
that
only
partial
sections
of
the
burner
will
be
lit.
This
is
normal
operation;
there
are
three
sections
on
the
burner
assembly,
and
the
computer
controls
the
amount
of
sections
needed
based
on
the
flow
rate
and
temperature
rise
required.
3)
SHUTDOWN
a.
The
heater
will
shut
down
when
the
water
flow
rate
drops
below
the
deactivation
point
of
0.4
gpm.
b.
The
heater
will
close
the
main
gas
valve
and
solenoid
gas
valves,
extinguishing
the
flame.
c.
When
the
flame
disappears
the
red
LED
will
turn
off.
d.
The
fan
will
increase
in
speed
to
purge
the
venting
of
any
remaining
exhaust
gases.
The
length
of
post
‐
purge
can
last
up
to
1
½
minutes.
e.
The
heater
goes
into
standby
waiting
for
the
process
to
begin
again
.
*The
purpose
of
this
diagram
is
to
illustrate
the
tankless
water
heater
design
concepts,
and
may
not
be
accurate
to
your
models
physical
description
.
Figure
2