Troubleshooting: Girard GSWH-2 Tankless Heater Not Working
Not everything electronic works as it should. They are often a very good upgrade but when things start to go bad, you often need an expert to handle the problem and diagnosis. That is when the electronic upgrade, like tankless water heaters, lose their value and their support.
The first step would be to check the control panel. You need to make sure that the wiring is not corroded or loose, etc. If the control panel is not getting power, then the water heater won’t work correctly. A multimeter should confirm this for you.
To learn more about troubleshooting a Girard GSWH-2 tankless water heater, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can apply the right solution to your situation. Take a few minutes to see how this information will help you when you are in tough spots.
GSWH-2 Tankless Heater 101
Common Girard GSWH-2 Issues
The most common problem you may have with this model of tankless water heater will be water flow issues. Most tankless water heaters depend on a certain amount of water pressure or flow to make all their components work correctly.
If you are boondocking and not hooked up to city water, the RV pump may not produce enough water flow to allow those components to charge the water correctly. Another common problem will be wiring.
Loose wires, corroded ones, or even ones that have broken play a large role in the device not working as it should. Check the wiring to make sure it is wired to the right terminals and there are no loose wires, etc.
Girard GSWH-2 Wiring Diagram
The 3rd link we gave for the manual below has a very good wiring diagram you can follow. It is found on page 34 but if the diagram is not as specific as you would like, there are plenty of photos throughout the manual that show all the wire connections.
This is one of the better manuals that we have seen as it is very thorough and makes sure you can see what they are talking about. Along with the wiring diagram, there is a functional diagram as well. It is on the upper portion of the same page as the wiring diagram.
Girard GSWH-2 Not working
This is a very general category and can apply to almost any error code you receive. However, when the model does not work you should check the motor and the blowers first before doing anything else.
Make sure the motor is not jammed or that the control board has not failed. Other sources for this problem could be that you forgot to turn the outside power switch on. or the UCP switch has not been turned on also.
Next, you should check the fuse and the wiring to make sure they are in perfect working order. Check to make sure you have at least .8 GPM flowing through the heater and there are other sources if these aren’t it.
Girard GSWH-2 Won't Turn On
Some of those other problems will fall into this category. For example, the water lines may have been connected wrong. Double-check to make sure they are hot to hot and cold to cold.
Or check the filter if there is one on the line and if it is clean or not. On top of that, you can check to see if there is a water restrictor on the waterline. If so, just remove it. If you have more than 1 GPM flowing through the lines even with the pump on then check the flow sensor. It may have gone bad on you.
Girard GSWH-2 Error Code E8
This error code deals with the air pressure switch. The steps to take to see what is the source of the problem begin with making sure the exhaust vent is not blocked. The next step would be to make sure the plastic tube is connected to the blower and pressure switch.
After seeing that those items are not the problem, see if the locking nut is loose and if it is, tighten it up. Once you have completed those checks, look at the petit tube in the exhaust system and make sure it is facing away from the blower wheel.
If all is well including the wiring, then replace the air pressure switch.
Girard GSWH-2 E5
This error code tells you that there is a problem with the motor. it could be jammed or there is a loose wire somewhere at the control board. You would have to manually turn the blower motor to make sure there are no jams.
But in any case, you probably have to either replace the motor or the water heater unit. Getting an E5 is not going to be good news.
Girard GSWH-2 Leaking Water
This is a problem that has more to do with the water lines and connections than the water heater. If you see water leaking somewhere, check your water line connections to make sure they are tight. If they need Teflon tape, it is a good idea to add some more or replace the old tape.
Also, check the hoses to make sure there are no holes in the lines. Tighten any connections, add a little duct tape to the hoses to cover the holes and you should be good to go.
Girard GSWH-2 User Control Panel Not Working
Generally, this part is under warranty for 2 years except for labor and shipping. If there are replaceable parts, you need a professional to diagnose the problem and have them install the new part.
That professional should be approved by Girard to make sure your warranty does not get voided and you are on the hook for another repair.
Girard GSWH-2 Reset Button
We looked through the diagrams, the parts lists, different troubleshooting and operation instructions, and not once did we see mention of a reset button. That does not mean there isn’t one or that you have to push a button to reset the device.
It means that to reset this device you have to use a different process. One that we could not find in their manual. There was also no reset button on the remote control. We also checked the photos in the manual and none highlight any button that could be considered a reset button.
Girard GSWH-2 Water Flow Sensor
This part is in the heart of the water heater and it is listed as #24 on the parts list in the manual. The only time the manual talks about this part are when the faucet is turned on but the heater does not work.
If you checked the water flow and it is over 1 GPM at this time, then the flow sensor may be bad and needs to be replaced. You will find this part mentioned on 0age 28 of the manual.
Buying Girard GSWH-2 Replacement Parts
A simple and cursory internet search will turn up more parts and repair outlets than you need to find the part you are looking for. There are many options and those options should not be too far from your location.
To get one near you, just adjust your search to the local area to find a good outlet that handles this water model. The key, of course, is to make sure you are not covered by the 2-year warranty when you search for parts. If you are, your search should focus on authorized dealers and technicians instead.
Downloading a Girard GSWH-2 Manual
This is not going to be a problem for you. There are numerous websites that offer this manual online for you to download. The bigger question would be how much will those download’s cost. We cannot guarantee that these websites will offer them for free so you have to keep searching to see if you can find a site that does.
The first website to check is this one. It is in the business of providing manuals for everything and anything. Then you can try this website after you go through their security system.
A third website lets you read it at the same time so you do not have to pay to get the information you want. As does this website, except that it is 12 pages shorter than number 3. Pick the one you want to use or find a different one using the subheading above.
Some Final Words
Tankless water heaters are a great invention. They let everyone using your RV take a nice hot shower without having to wait hours for the water to warm up. However, there will be times when those models break down.
Make sure to have a Girard owner’s manual on hand as it does a good job of explaining the different error codes and gives fairly good troubleshooting advice. If that fails to solve the problem, call a professional to handle the trouble.
