It is very important to protect your Rinnai tankless water heater from freezing temperatures, especially in cold climates. Rinnai came up with a Freeze protection kit which can help in safeguarding the heater unit from ice buildup to avoid scary disturbances in winters and cold climates. In this detailed guide, our water heater expert Joseph will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing the Rinnai freeze protection kit, highlighting its key features, installation tips, and the benefits of adding this essential component to your tankless system. Follow the below steps carefully to keep your water heater safe from freezing and running efficiently all winter long.
What’s Included in the Rinnai Freeze Protection Kit?
- Surge Protector – Shields the freeze protection system from power surges, ensuring that it functions without electrical interruptions.
- Accessory Cable – Provides the necessary wiring for connecting the freeze protection components to the main unit.
- Vacuum Breaker – Prevents backflow of water into the system, which is essential for maintaining proper pressure and preventing freezing.
- 3/4 in. NC (Normally Closed) Solenoid – Automatically closes to stop water flow when the power is lost, preventing water from freezing inside the unit.
- 1/4 in. NO (Normally Open) Solenoids (Quantity: 2) – These solenoids open when power is lost, allowing the unit to drain and protect against freezing.
Tools/Materials Required
Before you begin installing the Rinnai Freeze Protection Kit, make sure you have the following field-supplied tools and materials ready:
- 3/4 in. Tee and Nipple – For proper pipe connections during installation.
- Phillips Head Screwdriver – Used to remove and secure screws for attaching components of the freeze protection kit.
- Pliers or Channel Locks – Essential for tightening or loosening connections.
- Teflon Tape or Pipe Sealant – To create a leak-proof seal on threaded pipe connections, ensuring there are no leaks that could lead to freezing issues.
Installation steps of Freeze protection Kit
Follow these step-by-step instructions to install the Rinnai Freeze Protection Kit and ensure your tankless water heater remains protected from freezing temperatures.
1. Turn off and Disconnect the 120 V Power Supply: Before beginning any installation, ensure safety by disconnecting the power supply. This prevents accidental electrical hazards while working with the unit.
2. Turn off the Water Supply: Shut off the water supply to the tankless water heater. This will prevent water from flowing through the system during the installation process.
3. Turn off the Gas Supply: Next, turn off the gas supply to avoid any gas leaks or risks while installing the freeze protection kit.
4. Install the 3/4 in. and 1/4 in. solenoid valves (supplied) to the water lines as shown in the diagrams in “Piping Installation Steps.”
5. Install the freeze protection circuit board and make connections according to the instructions in section “Circuit Board Installation Steps.”
Piping Installation Steps:
Piping connection drawing for models RU199i/e, RU180i/e, RU160i/e, RU130i/e, CU199i/e, CU160i/e on the left drawing and RE199i/e, RE180i/e, RE160i/e, RE140i/e, RX199i, RX180i, RX160i, RX130i, CX1991, CX160i on the right drawing.
To enhance freeze protection for your Rinnai tankless water heater, it’s important to properly manage both indoor and outdoor water pipes, fittings, and key components.
Heat Trace All Water Pipes and Fittings (Above the Dashed Line)
For any water pipes or fittings that are located outside the home or building structure, such as in attics or crawl spaces:
- Heat trace the pipes and fittings. This involves wrapping the pipes with electrical heat tape to maintain warmth and prevent freezing during cold weather.
- Ensure the heat trace is securely applied and plugged into a reliable power source.
Indoor Water Pipes and Fittings (Below the Dashed Line)
All water pipes and fittings located below the dashed line should be installed inside the building structure where temperatures are more controlled and less prone to freezing. Proper insulation of these pipes is still recommended for extra protection.
Install the Vacuum Breaker (Supplied)
A vacuum breaker is critical for proper freeze protection operation. Follow these guidelines:
- Location: The vacuum breaker must be installed higher than the tankless water heater.
- Placement: Ensure the vacuum breaker is positioned inside the building structure to prevent exposure to extreme cold.
The vacuum breaker helps prevent the backflow of water and maintains proper system pressure during operation.
Check Valve Installation
To ensure efficient flow and freeze protection:
- Install a swing-type check valve on the horizontal pipe run. This allows water to flow in one direction and prevents backflow, which is crucial for maintaining the proper function of the freeze protection system.
Circuit Board Installation Steps
Follow these steps to safely install the circuit board for the Rinnai Freeze Protection Kit in your tankless water heater:
1. Power Off the Water Heater
Before starting, ensure that the water heater is powered off by either:
- Unplugging the power cord or
- Turning off the circuit breaker.
Remember, the water heater’s controller does not control the electrical power supply, so this step is crucial for safety.
2. Remove the Front Panel
- Unscrew the four screws securing the front panel of the tankless water heater.
- Carefully remove the panel to expose the internal components.
For more details on removing the front panel, refer to the Tankless Water Heater Installation and Operation Manual.
3. Locate the PC Board
- The PC board is located in the bottom-right corner of the water heater. This is where you’ll make the necessary connections.
4. Connect the Accessory Cable
- Take the accessory cable (supplied in the kit) and connect it to the accessory port located at the bottom of the PC board.
5. Install the Surge Protector
- Install the surge protector (supplied) into the upper screw hole of the PC board, labeled as point “A” in the above image. This protects the unit from electrical surges and ensures safe operation.
6. Insert the Accessory Cable into the Surge Protector
- Insert the end of the accessory cable labeled “Freeze Protection” into the surge protector harness, which has three white wires (labeled point “B” in the above image).
7. Secure the Grounding Wire
- Take the grounding wire (labeled point “C” in the above image) and secure it to the ground bar on the tankless water heater. Proper grounding is essential for safe electrical operation.
8. Disconnect the Power Harness
- Disconnect the BK/WT power harness from the PC board (labeled point “D”) and connect it to the Surge Protector Fuse Harness (labeled point “E”).
9. Connect the Power to the Surge Protector
- Now, connect the power connection from the PC board to the Surge Protector Fuse Harness (again, point “E”). This allows power to flow through the surge protector, ensuring protection.
10. Connect the Solenoid Wires
- Finally, connect the solenoid wires to the terminal screws in the surge protector (labeled point “F”). This ensures that the solenoids responsible for freeze protection are properly wired and ready to operate.
Once all connections are secure, replace the front panel and restore power to test the system. If your tankless heater got sediment buildup and haven’t done maintenance since 1 year refer our article How to Flush Rinnai tankless water heater
Hope this article helped you, If you have any doubts or questions regarding frozen tankless water heater please comment below. Thanks and stay tuned for more water heater articles.
