Dos And Don'ts When Maintaining Your Water Heater
The water heater is one of those modern-day features you will not be able to imagine living without. Who wouldn’t want to have reliable hot water throughout the year? However, if you don’t keep up the proper maintenance, you may find yourself having to take an unexpected cold shower. Because the hot water heater is not in sight, it is easy to forget. But just like anything else around the house, it requires regular upkeep. Read on for some dos and don’ts when maintaining your water heater!
How Often Does Your Water Heater Need Maintenace?
Annual checks and flushes promote a safe and efficient water heater.
There are some DIY options you can do but it is best to call a professional plumber to help with the annual inspection. The water heaters combine water, electricity, and sometimes gas. These appliances can be hazardous without the right expertise and tools.
Your Annual Water Heater Maintenance Checklist
Here is an annual water heater maintenance checklist that you can follow:
- Test the pressure release valve
Hot water heaters with a storage tank should come with a pressure relief valve. This is an important safety feature. It helps water to drain out when there are critical pressure levels. To test the pressure release valve, just lift up the tab on the valve and let go of it. The water should flow when you lift the tab but it should stop when it is down. If you face any issues, you might need to get a new relief valve.
- Flush the water heater to remove sediment
Whether you have soft or hard water, the hot water heater might collect a lot of sediment over the year. This sediment can increase the risk of damage to the water tank, clog your water lines and reduce the amount of water available in your tank. This means that having a build-up of sediment is not great. To prevent a build-up, you have to flush your tank every year.
The good news is that this process is relatively easy. The bad news is that it can also be messy. You have to make sure the power is turned off and there is a place to drain the water filled with sediment. This also gives you a good opportunity to inspect the anode rods.
It is recommended that you hire a professional for an inspection service.
- Inspect the anode rod
The anode rod is there to protect the lining on the inner side of the water heater’s tank. It is made out of a steel wire with a coat of aluminum, zinc or similar material. Testing the anode rod is a maintenance task that prevents you from having a leaky hot water tank.
The inspection process can be a dangerous DIY task so you will want to delegate this to a professional plumber.
Get Water Solutions At Water Heating Direct
Here at Water Heating Direct, we offer the best heating solution for our customers. We have both excellence and expertise in water heating. Feel free to contact us for more information.