The water heater is your plumbing system’s sole source of hot water. Maintaining your water heater can extend its life, reduce repairs, ensure hot water when needed, and cut down on energy costs. Water Heater Maintenance is an important factor to consider for the proper functioning of your water heater system.
Plumbing experts recommend scheduling professional water heater maintenance annually. In addition, you can also perform some small DIY maintenance jobs to keep the unit running smoothly. If you are wondering where to start with water heater maintenance, we provided a quick water heater maintenance guide for Dundalk, Maryland homeowners. If you have further questions, contact Reliability Home Services.
1. Schedule Water Heater Maintenance
It is important to inspect and examine your water heater regularly. These inspections can help you to catch potential issues in the early stages, which is when they will be far easier to repair. Take a brief moment to ensure that your water heater continues to function appropriately and efficiently.
2. Flush the Unit Annually
It is important to drain your water heater yearly. It will allow you to clean out the interior of the tank and remove the buildup of sediment. Though sediment may not damage a water heater, it substantially impacts the overall efficiency of the heater. To effectively drain your water heater, it is important to shut off the water and the power to the water heater.
You can attach a hose to the water heater and drain the remaining water out of the tank. Allow the water to cool before accomplishing this step. After you have cleaned the tank, you can refill it and turn it back on. Don’t turn the water heater back on until after it has been filled. Otherwise, it will put unnecessary strain on the heater as it tries to heat water that isn’t present.
3. Insulate the Water Heater Tank
Insulating the tank can provide many benefits for a water heater. Not only will it reduce energy expenses, but it can also extend the overall lifetime of the water heater. An insulated tank will prevent heat from escaping, so the water heater won’t have to work as hard to heat the water. It requires less energy, which will lead to lower energy bills. In addition, it reduces the overall amount of strain on the tank, ensuring that it lasts much longer.
4. Lower Temperature
Most water heater settings are at a temperature far higher than is practical. It is dangerous as it causes heater temperature to be much higher than is safe, resulting in burns. Many water heater settings are as high as 140° when you can accomplish all potential uses for hot water with temperatures of 120° or lower.
5. Test Temperature Pressure Relief Valve
Test the temperature pressure relief valve regularly to ensure it is operating properly. This valve is in place to release pressure when it builds up too much within a water heater. You can test the TPR valve by inserting a bucket beneath the discharge pipe.
After you have a bucket in place, you can lift the lever. If water comes out and stops when you lower the lever and the temperature pressure relief valve, it is functioning effectively. However, if water doesn’t come out or there is significant leakage, you will need to replace the valve.
6. Replace Anode Rod
The anode rod is an important component of a water heater and needs to be replaced regularly, generally around five years. The rod attracts corrosive minerals in the water so that they erode the rod rather than the inside of the tank. When this rod has worn out, the corrosive minerals can wreak havoc on the interior of the tank. It is vital to ensure that your anode rod is still functioning appropriately to protect your water heater.
7. Replace the Air Intake Filter
Tankless water heaters use air intake filters. These filters keep debris from entering the heater, which allows it to continue functioning effectively and easily. Change the filters regularly to ensure that they continue providing the necessary functions.
8. Insulate Pipes
Not only is it beneficial to insulate the tank of the water heater, but it can also be helpful to insulate the pipes connecting to the water heater. It is especially important during winter when pipes can reach dangerously cold temperatures. Insulating the pipes can prevent water from freezing in the pipes, which can lead to burst pipes that can cause extraordinary amounts of damage.
Schedule Water Heater Maintenance in Dundalk, Maryland
Keep your water heater running smoothly all year long. Contact Reliability Home Services to schedule maintenance on care in your unit. We offer professional water heater maintenance repair in Parkville, Maryland.
Fill out our contact form or call us to schedule plumbing services in Dundalk, Maryland.
