Excel Tankless Water Heater Daily Use And Winterizing

Question:

i just purchased this excel unit, not yet delivered. i just read about “winterizing” the unit not being necessary due to no standing water left in unit. however, i live in new england with freezing temps regularly throughout our winters… if i install this unit in the same space as my current 6 gallon tank unit, under my kitchen sink, through the outside r.v. access door panel, will the freezing temps affect the usage and operation of this tankless unit? also, how long do the 2 D batteries last for ignition of the pilot? do you recommend using rechargeable lithium D batteries? ALSO, is there an internal regulator built into the unit to regulate the mix of hot/cold water distribution from the faucet? LASTLY, if i currently need to leave my faucets drip hot and cold water during our freezing temps here to avoid freezing water lines, with windchill in the -8° range already this winter, will this affect the electric pilot ignition adversely in anyway, and the battery power usage/consumption??

asked by: Trae

Expert Reply:

I talked with my contact at Exel for you.

The Excel RV Tankless On-Demand Water Heater - Gas - Electric Ignition - Ventless - 38,000 Btu # EX93FR comes with a drain valve. It only uses water on demand but if it is going to sit for some time you can drain it of any residual water to keep it safe if you feel the need.

It is recommended for incoming cold water temperature above 50°F, however it can take lower incoming temperatures down to 40°F by reducing water flowrate (control knob can be adjusted to less water flow).

The colder the water coming in the longer it will take to heat the water. So it is recommended to lower the water intake and increase gas to compensate for this. You can do this by adjusting the two knobs on the front of the unit.

The batteries that come with the unit will last about 4 months if used every day and if you replace them with generic alkaline batteries from a store those will last 6-8 months. So lithium won't hurt but I don't see a need for it if the batteries will last over half a year if you use them daily.

They do highly recommend having a licensed professional install the unit to prevent any problems and warranty issues.

expert reply by: David B