EcoSmart Water Heater Not Turning On [3 Easy Solutions]

EcoSmart Water Heater is not turning on in the wake of electrical issues, defective or restricted flow meter, and blown out fuse. 

If you want the EcoSmart Water Heater to turn on, you must fix those issues. 

Fortunately, this guide will walk you through every troubleshooting step to resolve those problems I mentioned.

Just go along with the steps I broke down below and get your EcoSmart Water Heater ready to heat the water again. 

Here we go. 

Table of Contents

• EcoSmart Water Heater Not Turning On [3 Easy Solutions]
  • 01. Electrical Issues 
  • 02. Dirty or Defective Flow Meter 
  • 03. Blown Out Fuse 
• How To Reset EcoSmart Water Heater
• FAQs
• End-Note

EcoSmart Water Heater Not Turning On [3 Easy Solutions]

From this chapter, you will get the solution to this issue: EcoSmart Water Heater won’t turn on. 

01. Electrical Issues

Issue with electrical connection is the first culprit I blame if your EcoSmart Water Heater won’t turn on. 

Here electric problem means either the problem with the wiring of your tankless unit or your home’s electrical wiring. 

And the problem with the electrical connection will cause the unit to not get the power it requires to turn on. 

How To Fix: 

Start with checking the electrical connection of your tankless unit first. In other words, check how your plumber wires your water heater. 

And the following steps will help you in verifying connection electrically: 

• Detach all the breakers at the service panel. Once you disconnect all the breakers, measure the voltage going to each one of the sets. All should read 0.

• Now, turn on a breaker, it doesn’t matter which one. 

• Afterward, use a voltmeter and place one probe on L1 and the other probe on the other L1. You should get a reading of 208-240V. 

If the voltage reading is ok, understand the culprit is your home’s electrical connection or the circuit breaker. In this case, you must call a certified electrician to fix this issue. 

Turns out, don’t forget to check the unit for crossed wiring. Now, you may ask- how can I perform the test to determine whether the issue is crossed wiring or not? 

Simple. 

If you measure the voltage across one of the legs in a set but you get voltage in another leg of an other set, I bet the wires at the breakers are crossed. 

You must fix the crossed wiring issue. Regarding this, the following wiring diagram will come in handy: 

02. Dirty or Defective Flow Meter

The flow meter on a tankless unit controls the activation of the water heater by sensing water flow. 

If this device somehow gets clogged by sediments or debris, it restricts the water flow. In some cases, the flow meter may even get cracked or damaged. 

When the flow meter gets damaged or clogged, sufficient amounts of water will not flow through the system.  

Without running a certain amount of water flow (0.3 GPM) through the system, your EcoSmart Water Heater won’t turn on. 

How To Fix: 

To begin with, check the flow meter for a clog. You can find this device on the inlet side of the unit secured with 4 Phillips screws. 

Then, turn the breakers to the unit off and shut off the cold water supply. 

Next, open a few hot water faucets to drain water and depressurize the system. Now, follow the below steps to clean the flow meter: 

• Locate the flow meter, and remove it by unscrewing 4 screws.
• Remove the impeller and rinse the flow meter under the running water to release the sediment buildup. 
• Once you clean the flow meter, put every part back into place and ensure the impeller is spinning freely. 
• Turn water on and open a few water faucets for 3-5 minutes to flush the water lines and remove the air pockets. 
• Restore power to the unit and make sure the display is staying illuminated with water running. Let the water run for 45/60 seconds and within this time the unit should heat the water. 
• If the unit is not heating the water after cleaning the flow meter, I bet the flow meter gets damaged. 

To fix this issue, you must replace the flow meter. 

03. Blown Out Fuse

Every EcoSmart Tankless Water Heater comes with one inline fuse. It helps to shield the control board against power surge. 

If the fuse, somehow, gets blown out, it will be unable to protect the control board against power surge. 

As a result, the control board will get damaged and it will prevent the unit from turning on. 

How To Fix: 

Follow the below step-by-step procedure to locate and test the fuse: 

• Shut off electric supply to the unit at the circuit breaker.
• Remove the front cover by unscrewing the 4 Phillips head screws. 
• Now, locate the control board that is covered with white plastic housing.
• Remove the plastic cover from the control board by removing the 4 screws. 
• Find the round black fuse holder and open it. 
• Insert a new fuse (250V 3 amp) and replace the holder. 
• Turn on the breakers for the unit and verify if the unit comes on. 

If the unit comes on, understand the problem was the fuse. Otherwise, it’s possible there is an issue with the control board. 

I recommend you have a qualified plumber to replace the control board.

How To Reset EcoSmart Water Heater

Resetting your EcoSmart Tankless Water Heater is not rocket science. Just walk through the following 4 steps and get your water heater reset.  

• Turn on your water heater so the LED display comes on.
• Press and hold down the round knob from the control panel for 3 to 5 seconds. Then, release the button. 
• Now, the display should read CE2. 
• Keep the hot water running for 2-5 minutes and check for hot water.

FAQs

How to turn on EcoSmart Tankless Water Heater?

It’s a piece of cake to turn on your EcoSmart Tankless Water Heater. Just follow these 3 steps: 

1. Run water through the unit for 2-3 minutes before turning the power on to the water heater. This will help release any and all the air from the system to prevent damage. 

2. Now, turn on the breaker for the water heater and the LED display will come on and go off after that, which is normal. 

3. Press the round knob on the unit and turn the knob clockwise to increase the temperature. 

Where is the reset button on an EcoSmart electric tankless water heater?

The reset button on your EcoSmart Electric Tankless Water is located right on the middle of the unit. It’s a round knob, which works as a reset button. This will also help you in turning on & off the unit and adjusting the temperature. 

What happens if I push the reset button on my water heater?

If you push the reset button on your water heater, it will set your water heater to the default setting. In other words, it will reset every setting. 

End-Note

Your EcoSmart Water Heater won’t turn on due to electrical issues, which I blame the most. 

So, check the unit for electrical connection issues first by following the steps I mentioned earlier. 

If you are not handy, call a certified electrician to have your water heater checked electrically. 

Next, inspect the flow meter for a sediment buildup or damage. Then, either clean the flow meter or replace it (if required) to let the water flow through the unit freely. 

Lastly, don’t hesitate to check the fuse of the unit. If it gets blown out, replace it with a new one. 

Hope, these guides will solve your issue. Good Luck! 

Read Also:

• EcoSmart Tankless Water Heater Troubleshooting
l>

Eric Alvarez
Eric Alvarez is the head of content on LilDutchUncle.Com. He is an HVAC guy based in El Paso, Texas, United States. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from the University Of Texas at El Paso. Years of experience in the HVAC field have taught him many lessons, not the least of which is that the value of quality and knowledge far exceeds any promised initial savings. He has a good standing reputation for superior skills in heating, air conditioning, hot water tanks, and indoor air quality systems.