Girard Tankless Water Heater Troubleshooting

This guide on Girard Tankless Water Heater Troubleshooting will break down 9 common problems. So, continue to read till the end. 

9 Girard Tankless Water Heater Troubleshooting Tips

Here is the list of the most common problems every Girard Water Heater owner thinks about: 

1. Hot water takes too long to get to the shower or another faucet

This RV water heater starts producing hot water as soon as you turn on the hot water faucet. The time it takes to get hot water depends on the length of piping from your water heater to the faucet or shower. If you enjoy dry camping, there are devices available that you can install to eliminate this issue. 

2. Water Heater Won’t Start When The Faucet Is On

Your Girard Tankless Water Heater won’t start when you turn on the faucet because of the following reasons: 

• The On/Off switch is Off. 
• The UCP switch is Off. 
• No incoming power or the incoming voltage is low. 
• Too low water flow
• Water lines get reversed
• Do you use a flow restrictor on the incoming water line?
• Dirty water filter
• Water flow is more than 1 GPM

How To Fix: 

To ignite your Girard Tankless Water Heater, follow these troubleshooting steps: 

• Ensure the On/Off switch is in the On position.

• Check the User Control Panel switch and verify you turn it on.

• Remove the cover on the control board and look for the LED status. If the green light is on, understand that power is coming into the water heater. Otherwise, check the fuse and wiring. On the other hand, a red light indicates that the incoming voltage is low. I highly suggest hiring a certified electrician to gain 12V DC as the RV is a 12VDC electrical power system. 

• Test the water flow. You must have at least 0.8 GPM to operate the unit flawlessly. Ensure that the inlet water screen is free of dirt and debris buildup.

• Verify that you connect the water lines properly- hot to hot and cold to cold. 

• Remove the flow restrictor if you have one on the incoming water line. 

• Replace the flow sensor if the water flow is more than 1 GPM. 

3. Water Heater Comes On Then Locks Out With An E1 Code

An E1 error code on the UCP indicates ignition failure. If you experience this problem, ensure: 

• Verify that the gas tank is open and there is enough propane in the gas tank.  

• If this is the first start-up or a refilled tank, you should try multiple times for start-up. Turn the burners on the range to let the gas move through the system. 

• Tap on the gas valve. If it comes on, don’t hesitate to replace the gas valve. 

• Smell for the gas coming out of the exhaust. If you smell the gas, turn off the unit and shut off the gas supply. Then, call a professional or gas utility company for further assistance. 

• Confirm that the gas tank has enough propane if the weather is cold. 

• Ensure that the regulator on the tank is functional. Otherwise, you should replace the regulator. 

Read Further: Girard Tankless Water Heater Error Code E1

4. The Unit Comes On But Gives An Error Code E5 Immediately

Motor failure is what the error code E5 means on the Girard Tankless Water Heater. If you are going through this issue, go along with these steps to reset the E5 code: 

• Check the motor for blockage. Regarding this, turn the blower under its housing and ensure the motor is free of dirt buildup. 

• Remove the cover of the control board. Then, inspect the CN1 wire connection at the control board. If it comes loose, secure the wire connection. 

• Replace the motor or the control board if required. 

Discover: Girard Tankless Water Heater Error Code E5

5. Water Heater Comes On But Throws An E8 Code

The fault code E8 means air pressure switch failure. To reset the E8 code, follow these troubleshooting steps: 

• Take your eyes into the exhaust vent and ensure there is no blockage.
• Verify that you attach the plastic tube to the blower and the pressure switch. 
• Ensure the lock nut at the bottom of the blower, where the plastic tube attaches, is secure. If it comes loose, tighten the nut. 
• Look through the exhaust and verify that the petit tube is facing away from the blower wheel. 
• Ensure the wiring of the air pressure switch is tight and secure.
• If nothing works, I bet the air pressure switch is at fault. Replace it to resolve this issue.

6. Water Heater Comes On But Gives An E3 Code

A tripped ECO is responsible for the error code E3 on your Girard Tankless Water Heater. Consider these remedies to reset the fault code:

• Confirm that the RV cold water system derives its water input from a pressurized (45 PSI or greater) source. If the water pressure is low, the hot water system will heat the water at a high temperature. As a result, the ECO will get tripped. 

• Set the thermostat to 115 degrees or lower. 

• Check the ECO to ensure that it doesn’t get tripped. Regarding this, jump the ECO. If the water heater comes on properly, you should replace the ECO. 

• If you live in very hot conditions, I recommend you have an ECO replaced with a higher degree. 

Read Further: Girard Tankless Water Heater Error Code E3

7. The Burner Comes On But Then Shuts Off, On, and Off Again

Go along with the following troubleshooting steps to resolve the intermittent burner issue: 

• Check the gas line and ensure that the gas line is straight and free from any kinks. 
• Confirm that the gas tank regulator is in tip-top condition and working properly. 
• Ensure that the electrode wires are snugly connected. 
• Verify that the plumber installs the electrodes correctly and they don’t come loose. 
• Listen for slow sparking at the electrodes. If so, replace the electrodes. 
• Replace the control board.

8. Fail to Control The Temperature From The Setpoint

If you fail to control the temperature from the setpoint, check and correct the following issues: 

• Purge the water lines. Air in the plumbing system can cause intermittent heating operations. So, purge all the air from the plumbing system using the water pump and the city water source.
• The water pressure is too low. To resolve this issue, try to put water in the freshwater tank and run off the pump. 
• Set the temperature to a lower setting.
• Maybe the partial bypass valve is open. Close this valve if it remains opened. 
• Inspect the outlet temperature probe and verify that it’s working fine. 

9. Unit Is Too Noisy

Your Girard Tankless Water Heater will make a loud noise if the motor or blower assembly gets clogged by dirt or debris. To resolve this issue, check the motor or blower assembly. Then, clear the blockage from there to stop the unwanted noise. 

End-Note

Throughout this guide on Girard Tankless Water Heater Troubleshooting, I mentioned every troubleshooting steps you need to follow to resolve a certain issue. If you fail to fix a problem following this guideline, don’t hesitate to call a professional. 

Read Also:

• Girard Tankless Water Heater Error Codes