What Is Standby Mode On AO Smith Tankless Water Heater?

This guide on AO Smith Tankless Water Heater Stuck In Standby Mode will reveal:

• Why is standby mode on AO Smith Tankless Water Heater?
• Why does my AO Smith Tankless Water Heater  Get Stuck in standby mode?
• How can I determine the exact reasons my AO Smith Tankless Water enters standby mode?
• How to get AO Smith Tankless Water Heater out of standby mode?
• FAQs

Table of Contents

• What Is Standby Mode On AO Smith Tankless Water Heater?
• Why Does My AO Smith Tankless Water Heater Stuck In Standby Mode?
• How Can I Determine The Exact Reasons My AO Smith Tankless Water Heaters Enter Standby Mode?
• How To Get AO Smith Tankless Water Heater Out of Standby Mode?
  • Reset Your Tankless Water Heater
  • Reduce Hot Water Usage
  • Stay with the default temperature setting 
• FAQs
• Conclusion

What Is Standby Mode On AO Smith Tankless Water Heater?

The standby mode on the AO Smith Tankless Water Heater means the unit is not heating the water actively but is ready to heat when asked for hot water. 

When the unit clicks into the standby mode, you will get only cold water from your water heater. 

In standby mode, your AO Smith Tankless Water Heater consumes limited energy to keep the unit operational in a lower state, ensuring that it can quickly ramp up to heat when you call for hot water. 

Some primary aspects of standby mode on the AO Smith Tankless Water Heater are: 

• The tankless unit will continue to monitor water temperatures in standby mode and detect operational parameters or problems. As a result, you can quickly identify an issue as a user and take action to keep the unit operational. 

• The standby mode conserves energy to minimize the unit’s activity when you don’t use the water heater.

• The tankless unit can quickly switch from standby to in-use mode to heat the water when you call for hot water. It means you will get hot water on demand with minimum delay. 

Why Does My AO Smith Tankless Water Heater Stuck In Standby Mode?

Your AO Smith Tankless Water Heater will go into standby mode for several reasons, including:  

• Excessive hot water usage: If you use more hot water than the heater’s capacity, the unit will switch to standby from the heating mode. 

• No hot water demand: In standby mode, the heater is not actively heating the water but is ready to heat when you ask for hot water. If you don’t call for hot water, you will see the standby mode is on. 

• The set temperature is beyond the safety level: The unit will go into standby mode automatically when you set up the temperature too high. AO Smith Tankless Water Heater has a safety device called ECO or reset button. It cuts off the gas supply by tripping itself when the temperature exceeds 180 degrees F. 

How Can I Determine The Exact Reasons My AO Smith Tankless Water Heaters Enter Standby Mode?

To identify the exact reasons that cause your AO Smith Tankless Water Heater to kick into standby mode repeatedly, follow these three steps: 

• Run some hot water before the unit goes back into standby mode. Regarding this, turn on your hot water faucet. 

• Press the Info button to see the water flow information. Instead of providing water flow, the display will only show you the water temperature. 

• After a few seconds, you will see numerical numbers to blink, which are the error codes that cause your tankless unit to enter the standby mode. 

Check out this video to discover further about this: 

How To Get AO Smith Tankless Water Heater Out of Standby Mode?

To get your AO Smith Tankless Water Heater out of standby mode, try these troubleshooting steps: 

Reset Your Tankless Water Heater

To reset your AO Smith Tankless Water Heater, try these steps: 

• Detect the underlying reasons behind the standby light blinking and resolve them. I described how to see the culprits that cause the standby light to blink. 
• Turn off the unit by pressing the power button. 
• Disconnect the tankless water heater from the electric connection. 
• Unscrew the front panel and locate the hi-limit switch, whose part number is 100074412.
• Press the hi-limit or reset button. 
• Restore the power of your tankless water heater.
• Turn on the unit, and the in-use status light should blink green. 

Reduce Hot Water Usage

Excessive hot water usage can trigger the unit to switch to standby. To avoid this issue, reduce the use of hot water. Don’t turn on multiple hot water faucets at a time. 

Instead, use the specific hot water faucet when required. You can use cold water to wash your dress to reduce strain on hot water. If you have a large family, install another tankless water heater to meet your requirements. 

Stay with the default temperature setting

The default temperature setting for the AO Smith Tankless Water Heater is 120 degrees F. I highly suggest you stay with that preset temperature setting, which will be safe. 

FAQs

Why is my tankless water heater not turning on?

Your tankless water heater is not turning on if the unit receives no electric power. Besides, non-functioning upper thermostats, tripped limit switches, and burn-out heating elements are also responsible for this issue.

What's the lifespan of a tankless water heater?

A tankless water heater will last up to 15-20 years if you maintain it properly.

Should a tankless water heater be serviced?

Yes, a tankless water heater should be serviced periodically or monthly. The good news is- you don’t need to maintain a tankless water heater more often than the tank water heater requires. What you need to do is- just check the electrical or gas components and take the necessary steps if you find any issues.

How often should a tankless water heater be flushed?

You should flush a tankless water heater at least once a year. However, it’s advisable to flush the tankless water heater every six months.

Can you use vinegar to clean the tankless water heater?

Yes, you can use vinegar to clean a tankless water heater undoubtedly as it doesn’t bring any damage to your heater components. Instead, it will cut the calcium and deposit buildups.

Conclusion

It’s quite easy to deactivate the standby mode of your water heater. Just follow the step-by-step guide I mentioned above to reset the water heater. And it will bring your water heater back into normal operating conditions. Best of luck!

Read Also: 

• AO Smith Water Heater Reset Button
• AO Smith Electric Water Heater Troubleshooting
• AO Smith Water Heater Troubleshooting Codes