7 Crucial Water Heater Maintenance Tips
Water heaters are vital appliances in every home, and you need to ensure they are functioning optimally all year long. Unfortunately, as a homeowner, you probably only think about your water heater when something goes wrong, a costly mistake that is best avoided through proper maintenance. Here, we look at seven crucial water heater maintenance tips.
1. Regular inspection
Always prioritize inspecting your water heater to catch potential issues before they get out of hand. Popular signs that you need to watch out for include:
– Strange noises from your tank
– Leaks or puddles around your water heater tank or its connections
– Not enough hot water
– Discolored water
A solid approach to ensuring you never take any chances with your water heater is to delegate this critical task to professionals like 888 Heating. This way, you will never have to worry about overlooking any vital signs or implementing preventative measures to avoid potential water heater failures.
2. Insulate your water heater tank
One of the best ways to prepare for winter is by insulating your water heater tank. This will give you double benefits as it reduces your energy consumption while also reducing the strain placed on your tank, helping it last longer.
3. Drain and flush your tank annually
It is critical to drain and flush your water heater tank annually to eliminate the sediments accumulated over time. While these residues might not cause damage to your tank, their accumulation can significantly impact the overall efficiency of your water heater.
4. Test the temperature and pressure relief valve
Make it a habit to test your water heater’s temperature and pressure relief valve to ensure it functions effectively. An easy way to test it is by placing a bucket below the lever and lifting it. If water comes out and instantly stops when the lever is lowered, it is appropriately functioning. On the other hand, if there are leaks after you drop the level of water that does not flow when you lift it, you will need to replace the valve.
5. Replace the air intake filter
If you are considering remodeling your home or have recently upgraded your old water heater to a tankless unit, you should be ready to replace the air intake filters regularly.
These filters are meant to prevent debris from getting into your tank, and it is highly recommended to replace them annually to ensure they keep functioning optimally.
6. Replace the anode rod
It is not every day that you need to be worried about your anode rod, but they generally need to be replaced after five years. This rod plays a critical role as it attracts corrosive materials that would destroy the tank, and it must be operating appropriately.
7. Reduce water heater temperature
Even during the coldest winters, where you will appreciate having modern interior fireplaces, your water heater must never be set too high. Opt to lower your water heater temperature as most are always set extremely high and could cause burns or injuries while consuming too much energy.
Endnote
Water heater failures will disrupt your life, but you can be confident of preventing many problems with these maintenance tips.
- by Matt Watts
