{"id":1057,"date":"2023-11-15T20:26:42","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T20:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.www.unitedairtemp.com\/baltimore-md-area\/?p=1057"},"modified":"2025-06-04T13:45:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T13:45:21","slug":"can-a-tankless-water-heater-freeze-in-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unitedairtemp.com\/baltimore-md-area\/blog\/can-a-tankless-water-heater-freeze-in-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Can a Tankless Water Heater Freeze in Winter?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"tankless<\/p>\r\n

If you own a tankless water heater<\/a>, your unit has many advantages over traditional tank water heaters<\/a>, such as a longer life span and lower energy costs. You may not realize that they have a higher risk of freezing than standard units.<\/p>\r\n

While it’s not as common as frozen pipes, understanding your tankless water heater system, how to prevent freezing, and how to thaw your system can help you make decisions that save your home and tankless system from damage this winter.<\/p>\r\n

How Do Water Heaters Freeze?<\/h2>\r\n

Unlike traditional storage tank water heaters that heat and store water throughout the day, tankless units provide on-demand hot water. This means there’s no running water when it’s not in use, and stagnant water is at greater risk of freezing.<\/p>\r\n

Most tankless water heaters have built-in freeze protection, but they only protect the internal components in temperatures from minus 5 degrees to minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>\r\n

Electric standard and tankless units are at the greatest risk of freezing during a power outage. Without any heat, the water in a standard electric unit can freeze in the tank and cause it to burst, while tankless units can have damaged internal components and leaks.<\/p>\r\n

Gas standard water heaters are the least likely to freeze because you can sustain gas power during an electrical outage. Your unit will use natural gas to continually heat water in the tank.<\/p>\r\n

How To Thaw a Tankless Water Heater<\/h2>\r\n

Your tankless system is frozen; now what? Thawing your unit is crucial to prevent further damage to your system.<\/p>\r\n

Follow these simple steps to help thaw your tankless water heater:<\/p>\r\n