Free checklist
Tankless water heater annual maintenance checklist
The annual tankless water heater service is the deep pass: the measurements, cleanings and tests a quarterly round doesn't reach. This checklist keeps the full service on record with the photos that make it defensible later. Work is commonly verified against IPC / UPC plumbing codes, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 4
- Photos required
- 6
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The plumbing service tech on the annual service visit.
When in the schedule
Once a year, and sooner where the water is hard, since scale in the exchanger is what steals temperature and eventually cracks the unit.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo that proves it
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Copy the list as is, or load it into RTI and let the gate enforce it.
Descale and flush
- 2 photos
Heat exchanger descaled and flushed
Isolation valves used to circulate descaling solution through the exchanger, then flushed clean, scale volume in the return noted to set the next interval.
- 1 photo
Inlet screen and flow verified after flush
Inlet screen cleaned again after descaling, flow rate and delivered temperature re-checked to confirm the descale actually restored output.
Burner service
- 2 photos
Burner, flame sensor and igniter cleaned and serviced
Burner assembly and flame rod cleaned per manufacturer schedule, igniter checked, flame pattern and ignition re-verified after service.
- 1 photo
Combustion and venting proven after service
Combustion confirmed within the manufacturer's range after cleaning, vent and condensate path re-checked end to end, no fault codes on restart.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- A quick flush run without descaling solution, so scale that's already coating the exchanger passages stays put and output keeps drifting down.
- Burner and flame sensor left untouched, so a unit that's slowly fouling keeps clearing ignition faults until it finally locks out in cold weather.
Run it with the Photo Gate
A checklist nobody can submit half-finished
Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 6 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.
Submission state
The gate is enforced on the server, so it holds even if the phone is offline when the walk happens.
Verified against
Common questions
- What does this tankless water heater annual checklist cover?
- 4 items across 2 sections, covering descale and flush, burner service. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
- Who should run this inspection?
- The plumbing service tech on the annual service visit.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Once a year, and sooner where the water is hard, since scale in the exchanger is what steals temperature and eventually cracks the unit.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 6 of the 4 items call for photo evidence. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
- What most often fails a tankless water heater annual inspection?
- A quick flush run without descaling solution, so scale that's already coating the exchanger passages stays put and output keeps drifting down. Burner and flame sensor left untouched, so a unit that's slowly fouling keeps clearing ignition faults until it finally locks out in cold weather.
- Can I use this checklist in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.
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