You don’t really realize how much you actually rely on your water heater until it breaks down. Not only your water heater provides you with a warm bath, clean clothes, and sparkling pans and pots, but also effectively kills germs. That’s why it’s important to take proper care of your water heater.
Appropriate maintenance can help to extend the lifespan of your water heater. Use these easy maintenance tips to ensure your water heater is working efficiently and to keep the hot water flowing when you need it. Whether you have an electric heater or a gas water heater, you will find these tips extremely useful.
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Regularly Inspect Your Water Heater
Examine your water heater regularly to catch potential issues at the early stages. That way it will be easier to repair your water heater. Every day take a brief moment to check if your water heater is continuing to function efficiently and appropriately.
Flush Your Water Heater Yearly
To maintain your water heater properly, you must drain it yearly. This way you can clean the interior of the tank and remove the buildup of sediment. Even though the sediment doesn’t directly damage your water heater, it still impacts the overall efficiency of the heater.
Use a garden hose to drain out the water from your heater. Then wait till it cools down. After the clean-up, don’t turn on the water heater until it’s fully filled. Otherwise, it will only use too much electricity to heat the water that isn’t present.
Lower The Temperature To Maintain Your Water Heater Properly
It’s not practical to set your water heater at a high temperature. In fact, it’s quite dangerous. Overheating water can easily burn you. Many homeowners set their water heater temperature at 140° or higher.
The optimal temperature for a water heater should be 120° or lower. Lowering the hot water temperature not only saves you overall energy expenses but also prevents burn injuries.
Please watch out for the higher pressure levels that come with hot water. The pressure relief valve is a safety feature that a water heater tank has. Without a pressure relief valve, the hot water can break the water heater tank. If your pressure relief valve releases pressure more often, then that is also a sign that you are keeping your hot water temperature too high. Note also the cost of fuel you save for running a gas water heater or the cost of electricity you save for an electric water heater. Note also the discharge pipe where the hot water flow leads to a safer location.
Insulate Tank To Maintain Your Water Heater
Another great way to maintain your water heater is to insulate the tank properly. It reduces energy expenses and extends the overall efficiency and lifespan of the water heater.
When your water heater is insulated, It prevents heat from escaping the tank. This way the water heater doesn’t have to work as hard to heat the water. So your water heater requires less energy which leads to lower electricity bills especially for a hot water heater tank during winter. Whether it is for gas water heaters or electric water heaters, insulating the hot water tank completely can save on your total energy costs.
To Maintain The Water Heater, Replace The Air Intake Filter
If you own a tankless water heater then this is an essential maintenance tip for you. Tankless water heaters require air intake filters. These filters keep away the debris from entering the heater. But the filters need to be changed regularly to ensure the water heater is functioning effectively. For a tankless heater system, this is one way to maintain the water heater’s efficiency.
Professional Inspection
This is one of the most important parts of water heater maintenance. If you encounter any problems with your water heater then it’s time to call for a skilled and experienced plumber. A gas water heater may work differently from an electric water heater. That means you need a skilled and experienced plumber to deal with a drain valve to check for leaks. Moreover, they can teach you how to deal with certain situations with, for instance, a hot water heater, with a pressure relief valve behaving strangely, or when to switch the shutoff valve.
Final Thought
At P&L Plumbing we offer fast, reliable, and quality water heater maintenance service at the best price. For any inquiry, feel free to contact us at (480) 649-4400. We also provide no obligation and free consultation service. You can also visit our website at P&L Plumbing to appoint a schedule.
> Here is a related article on How to Prevent Plumbing Emergencies.
