I think we would all agree, we cannot live without our water heaters. Our water heater is indispensable. We use it to wash dishes, take a shower, and wash our clothes. It’s like turning on a light switch. When you turn the handle, you just know hot water will be there.
Some might consider that our heater is a fixture because they are permanently attached. Truly, they are an appliance. The big question is, how do we get the most out of our water heater? Most storage-tank water heaters will last 8 to 12 years.That number could vary based on water heater quality, original installation, water quality, and scheduled maintenance.
Have Your Water Heater Maintained Annually
Annual maintenance is one way you can get the most out of your water heater. Most homeowners don’t have a clue that their heater needs to be maintained. Maintenance requires draining your water heater once a year of sediment and twice a year if you have hard water. Doing so will not only improve performance but will also extend its life expectancy. The biggest concern is water with large amounts of calcium and minerals that calcify and find their way to the bottom of the tank. If your water heater uses natural gas, the sediment will cause the water to heat unevenly and eventually leads to the tank leaking. In the case of an electric water heater, it can burn out the heating element. In both cases, the sediment can clog the drain valve.
Homeowners Can Do Minor Troubleshooting
There are some telltale signs that your heater needs replacing, especially if it’s older. For example, if your water heater is leaking from the tank’s base, it probably needs replacing. Rest assured that with some minor troubleshooting, you can save your current water heater. A homeowner can safely perform some troubleshooting, such as checking for a blown fuse, tripped breaker, or blown out pilot light. Every heater has instructions on how to light the pilot safely. While we want to get the most out of our appliances, there will be a point where replacing our heater is the best, even if repairing it is an option. Most of the latest water heater technologies can save up to 30% in energy costs compared to heaters made ten years ago.
Tankless Water Heater Need Maintenance As Well
Storage tank water heaters aren’t the only ones that need maintenance. Your tankless water heater requires maintenance as well. Depending on usage will depend on whether it will require flushing in 12 or 18 months. For instance, if you have a small family of two, you can flush the heater every eighteen months but a family of three or more every twelve months. If the unit is not flushed, scale builds up in the boilers and gets thrown off into the system, making a mess. The process is simple. Any homeowner can flush their system using white vinegar through the boilers. It will require a submersible pump, a couple of washer hoses, and a five-gallon bucket. There are kits available at your local home centers. Tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of twenty years. Performing annual maintenance can extend that time to twenty-five, even thirty years.
Get A Whole House Water Filtration System
There is still another way we can get the most out of our water heaters, and that’s by installing a whole house water filtration system. Most, if not all, filtration systems provide filtered water throughout the home removing hard water minerals before it gets to your heater. You’ll have the best of both worlds with fresh-tasting drinking water, cleaner hair, and skin and appliances protected from the effects of hard water.
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