Something that should occur every year is water heater maintenance. As with any appliance, things can break down or go wrong with your water heater. With scheduled maintenance from a reliable plumbing service, you can keep your water heater in top working condition.
Water heaters are one of the hardest-working appliances in the home. Throughout the year, this appliance is responsible for supplying water to your sinks, showers, and bathtubs. Because the appliance is on-call 24 hours a day, water heater maintenance is necessary to ensure that the heater keeps running and you never get stranded without hot water.
What Can Go Wrong with a Water Heater
Gallons of water are pumped into a water heater all year, and this water includes extra particles that remain in the tank. Over time, these pieces of sediment and minerals make their way to the bottom of the heater where they settle.
As the layer of sediment builds, the efficiency of your water heater diminishes. If the grime remains inside the tank, it forces the water heater to work harder and longer, which results in higher energy bills and less money in your bank account.
Unchecked sediment layers can also lead to rust, which will eat away at the tank. You need a new water heater when this happens.
Draining a Water Heater
All water heaters come with instructions for proper maintenance. Sometimes, instructions are misplaced, and you don’t know what to do to keep your equipment running efficiently. While it’s possible for homeowners with plumbing experience to drain the tank on their own, the job is typically best left to professional plumbers who are experienced in working with both electric and gas water heaters.
Additional Maintenance Tips
Another annual maintenance task is resetting the water heater for warmer weather. With temperatures soaring outside, the heater’s gas valve, or thermostat for electric tanks, should be turned down to regulate the temperature. This protects the water heater from overheating, and it also helps reduce your energy bill.
An often-forgotten maintenance task is checking the anode rod located inside the tank. This small wire, usually made of magnesium or aluminum, prevents corrosion inside the tank. Over time, it will rust, which makes it ineffective and limits the life of the tank. An experienced plumber can remove, check, and replace the rod, if necessary. If you hire a plumber to come in for yearly maintenance, make sure the anode rod check is included. With expert service and maintenance, your water heater can last for many years.
For answers to your questions, contact the Pink Plumber today.
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