It is probably one of the most important appliances inside every home, as it provides water for showering, dish-washing, and washing clothes. Poor water heater servicing can create costly repairs, early replacement, and even hazardous scenarios like leakage or malfunction. In this article, we let you know about the proper maintenance of your water heater that can dramatically lengthen the life of the heater and save you money in energy costs or replacement while providing you with continued hot water heater repair service.
The Significance of Water Heater Maintenance
The lifespan of a water heater can range from 8 to 15 years, contingent upon the brand, utilization, and maintenance. Routine care just helps make certain the operational capacity of the water heater with minimal chance of breakdowns; therefore minimizing hot water heater repair. Replacing a water heater costs much more than keeping it operational; thus, investing time in its routine care is always well spent. always time well spent.
It involves more than just saving money; there are safety concerns with a well-maintained water heater. Over time, with the buildup of sediment, corrosion, and/or mechanical failure,and inconsistent optimal temperature. Regular checks helps to eradicate these risks and keeps your water heater functioning well.
Basic Steps in Water Heater Maintenance
The following are some basic steps to ensure that your water heater stays in prime condition:
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Temperature Setting
Checking the temperature in your water heater periodically t. The majority recommend turning the thermostat up to 120°F. This temperature minimizes energy utilization considering it is simply hot enough to offer you hot water without scorching. Lower temperatures also reduce wear and tear on the unit, which thereby extends its life.
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Leak Check
One symptom of some sort of water heater issue includes a leak. Periodically, around the base of your water heater, look for signs of water. If you find pooling or moisture, that may be due to a leak in either the tank or the connections. Try to catch small leaks early on so that you can avoid costly water heater repair later on or worse, having to replace it altogether.
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Pressure Relief Valve Testing
The pressure relief valve is an important safety device that maintains reasonable internal pressure within your water heater. You will notice whether it functions properly once you place a bucket below the discharge pipe and open the valve. If the water does flow upon opening and stops when shut, then that valve is good to go.
If water doesn’t discharge or if it leaks after it’s closed, then that’s where the replacement may be necessary. It’s very important to periodically test this kind of valve to prevent dangerous pressure buildups.
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Annual Tank Flushing
The sediment in your water accumulates at the base of your water heater tank over time. Your water heater will become less efficient the thicker it becomes, and it may even cause corrosion that may ultimately cause an early end. You want to avoid this, so flush out your water heater once a year.
Here is how you can get this done:
- First, you want to start by turning the power or gas supply to the water heater off.
- Attach a garden hose to the bottom tank drain valve.
- Place the other end where hot water can safely drain out.
- Let the water flow until it runs clean by opening the drain valve.
- After the water has run out, shut off the valve and take the hose off.
- Next, you can refill the tank with new water.
By doing this, the silt that accumulates inside the water heater unit will be removed, allowing it to function more smoothly and extending its lifespan.
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Anode Rod Check
An anode rod is a key device inside the water heater that can help prevent rust from reaching the tank. Essentially, it attracts corrosive elements in the water to rust the rod rather than the tank. Over time, it gets consumed and needs to be replaced.
To check the anode rod:
- Cut off the heater’s gas or electricity source as well as the water supply.
- Using a wrench, remove the anode rod from the top of the tank.
- Check the rod for corrosion. Any less than ½ inch thick, or with a coating of calcium needs to be replaced.
Changing the anode rod every few years can continue to make a great deal of difference in prolonging the life of your water heater.
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Heating Element
Depending on how they are used, the heating components in electric water heaters eventually wear out or burn out. A broken heating element causes a decrease in the amount of hot water you are receiving or lukewarm water. Usually, these components may be substituted rather readily and affordably, avoiding the need to replace the entire apparatus.
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Insulate the Water Heater and Pipes
The water heater’s efficiency is increased by reducing heat loss by insulation of the tank and the first few feet of hot water lines. Most hardware stores carry tank insulation blankets that are relatively easy to install. For pipes, even the simple foam insulation can serve to keep the heat in longer so the water heats up faster while energy bills go down.
This can help extend the life of a water heater simply by reducing its workload of maintaining water temperature.
Professional Maintenance and When to Call a Plumber
Even if many maintenance jobs are simple enough for you to perform yourself, some are better left to the knowledge of a certified specialist. You must get a qualified plumber to repair your water heater if any of the subsequent issues arise, or in case you feel uneasy doing :
- Absence of warm water: This might be caused by a broken heating element or a broken thermostat.
- Unusual noises: Excessively thick sediment buildups inside the tank are typically the cause of rumbling or slamming sounds.
- Discolored water: When your hot water starts taking on that rusty hue, this may be indicative that corrosion is going on inside the tank.
- Water smells bad: Smelly water may indicate that bacteria grow inside the tank.
A professional plumber can also provide annual inspections and deeper cleanings to keep your water heater at an optimal level. Frequent service will extend the unit’s lifespan and address little issues before they grow into more costly ones.
How long will a Water Heater last?
With proper care, most water heaters may last on average ten to fifteen years. Note that, gas water heaters often have a shorter lifespan than electric. They tend to live 8–12 years. With proper maintenance, tankless water heaters have the potential to endure up to 20 or even more years.
The above water heater maintenance tips followed to the letter will increase the life span of your unit, making it work well. Do not wait until your water heater decides to stop working before you start maintaining it; regular maintenance will prevent those unexpected repairs and replacements.
Conclusion
Water heater maintenance may seem to be a minor thing, but it is a major thing in making sure that it lives longer and serves effectively. Most of the issues that create the need for water heater repair could be avoided with these minor routines. With a tiny investment of time in routine maintenance, you receive reliable hot water, add years to your water heater’s life span, and it pays for itself many times over.
Want more useful tips on how to keep your home plumbing in optimum working condition? Call Prestige Heating & Cooling today, to set up an appt!