So there you are at the end of a long day. You’re all set to take a nice relaxing shower and go to bed. Maintaining a water heater is essential to making your nightly plan a reality. Proper care will prolong the life of the unit and take away any unwanted surprises. Take some time to make sure your water heater runs like new. Here is a helpful guide to maintaining a water heater to save both time and money.
Maintaining a Water Heater Step 1: Drain Your Hot Water Tank
One of the best ways to make sure your water heater stays at peak efficiency is to drain and flush the tank annually. By doing this you will be able to remove any sediments that have built up over the year.
Before you get started with this essential step to maintaining a water heater, you need to make sure your heater is off. For electric heaters, you need to shut off the electricity, and for gas heaters, you need to turn the gas valve to the off position.
Before draining the water to the tank, you first need to turn off the cold water supply. Next, attach a piece of garden hose to the drain valve located at the bottom of the tank. Finally, open the pressure release valve and let the tank drain.
Once your water tank is empty, turn on the cold water supply. This will flush out any remaining sediment. Once it is all gone, close the drain valve and allow the tank to fill back up.
Before turning the power back on, make sure the tank is completely full. Turning electricity on too early might force you to replace your upper heating element. With a gas heater, you need to remember to re-light the pilot.
Maintaining a water heater is essential to keeping your home in tip-top shape. This important step will demonstrate how smoothly this piece of equipment can run when taken care of properly.
Maintaining a Water Heater Step 2: Adjust the Temperature
The right temperature for your water heater is often a matter of preference. However, when setting the temperature of your water heater keep in mind that hot water can burn or scold you. This is especially important if there are children in your home.
There is a temperature dial on the side of your water heater. This dial should be set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit for the best performance. To adjust the setting, all you need is a flathead screwdriver. Remove the cover to the temperature gauge and turn the screw until it indicates the correct setting. You also want to remember to turn the heat off if you are going to be away from your home for more than three days. This will save you energy costs as well as prolong the life of your heater.
Maintaining a Water Heater Step 3: When to Call a Professional
Maintaining your water heater is great for the well-being of your home. In addition to learning what you can do on your own, it is also essential to know when you need to call a professional. Your water heater is an expensive appliance and you should never attempt to fix something that needs an expert’s touch. Here is a list of warning signs you should look for.
Leaks from the tank or valves
Odd smells or odors
No hot water
Maintaining a hot water heater does not have to be stressful. As long as you know what to do and look for, this is one appliance that will last you a very long time. If you find yourself with any questions or concerns, contact us. We are always happy to help.
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