No one has ever met a homeowner that wants to dish out a bunch of cash for a new water heater, especially before its time. Your water heater should last between 10-12 years, with few exceptions, of course. Some of us have seen water heaters perform well beyond their years and others expire before they should have. So Do you want your heater to last longer and perform to full strength? Then performing regular water heater maintenance on it will extend its life and keep small problems from turning into big ones. Routine maintenance will include checking pipe connections and for water leaks. On all-natural gas water heaters, ensure the vent pipe is installed correctly and make sure there are no obstructions.
Your water heaters put in some long hours to keep you warm, clean, and ready to use. So, take care of your appliance by creating a regular water heater maintenance schedule to ensure it far exceeds its life expectancy.
Here are some practical tips for water heater maintenance:
An Undetected Leak Can Be Serious
A heater that does not receive routine water heater maintenance will cost more to operate and can cause damage to your home. In addition, an undetected leak coming from your water heater can cause mold and decay in your home. To avoid these problems, make an effort to check underneath your water heater along with connections at least a couple of times a year.
Check Your T&P Pressure Relief Valve At Least Twice A Year
Once a year, test your temperature-pressure relief valve. To accomplish this quickly, discharge it three or four times. Watch for valve leaks when testing gets completed. The valve is a safety device on every water heater, also known as a T&P pressure release valve. It’s there to protect you in the event of an excessive increase in water pressure. Your water heater could break if it doesn’t have this safety feature. If the water pressure is too high, you run the risk of getting burnt. The T&P valve will also ensure you’ll never have low water pressure due to a leak in your water heater.
Regulate The Temperature And Save Energy
Regulate the temperature setting to a 120-degree on the thermostat. Reducing the temperature by 10 degrees could save up to 5 percent on energy costs while also reducing the temperature to a safe level.
Draining The Sediment is part of your Water Heater maintenance
Remove silt and hard water sediment from your storage tank. You can accomplish that by draining a fourth of the tank twice a year. Connect a garden hose to your drain valve and direct the water into a pail until it becomes clear. If the water remains hazy, then open up the water supply valve for a few more seconds to stir up any sediment that may be present, and then drain the tank once more. As a result, your water heater will run much smoother and perform at its optimum level.
Your Anode Rod Will Protect Your Water Heater
Every three years, remove and inspect the anode rod. You can do that by loosening the hex head screw to remove it. Why is an anode rod so crucial to a water heater? When silt and corrosive substances (such minerals in the hard water) collect on an anode rod, they erode the anode rod instead of the water heater tank and internal components. Thus, an anode rod’s primary function is to shield your water heater from the corrosive substances that could otherwise cause it harm. A variety of things influences your water heater’s corrosion.
When is it time to replace your anode rod?
- Calcium has coated the rod.
- The rod is less than one-half of an inch thick.
- The steel wire core is exposed more than 6 inches.
Reminder: When you leave town, put your gas heater’s thermostat in vacation mode, this will keep the pilot light burning but does not heat the water.
Our Team Of Plumbing Experts Will Exceed Expectations
At Big B’s Plumbing, we want to be your first choice when it comes to plumbing services. Our team of experts has been serving Riverside, Inland Empire, and San Diego County for close to a decade. We’re a top-rated five-star company across all social networks. Also, we’re an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. Call today and get unsurpassed value and service. Contractor’s License #986152
Thanks for mentioning that draining the sediment is important for heater maintenance. I’m thinking about getting a new hot water heater. I’ll call a maintenance company to see when they can install it.