How To Properly Maintain Your Water Heater
Recommended Maintenance: EVERY YEAR!
Your water heater is one of the most essential appliances that you have in your home. It works constantly to help provide clean dishes, warm showers, and cozy baths for you and your family. However, it is one of the most overlooked appliances when it comes to maintenance. Some attention today can help extend its life, improve efficiency, lower your utility bill, and prevent costly breakdowns.
Here’s how to keep your water heater running smoothly, and how Doctor Rooter Plumbing can help you with your regular maintenance.
1. Check to see if you have any leaks around the pipes and fittings
**For the next steps, please ensure that your power supply is shut off at the breaker box, or that your gas supply is turned off.
2. Check the Temperature Setting: Most manufacturers recommend keeping your water heater set to 120 ° F (49° C). This will keep your water hot enough for everyday use and prevent scalding. It will also keep your energy costs lower. If you set it higher it will waste energy and speed up wear on the inside of your tank.
3. Inspect and Test the Pressure Relief Valve: The temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve is an important safety device that will keep your water heater from over-pressurizing. Built up mineral deposits can result in this critical safety component failing.
How to test it:
· Ensure that your power, or gas, supply is turned off
· Place a bucket under the discharge pipe
· Slightly lift the valve lever and let some water flow. It should stop when you release the lever. If water doesn’t come out or it leaks afterward, the valve may need replacement by a licensed plumber.
4. Flush the tank annually: Over time, sediment builds up at the bottom of your tank. This can reduce heating efficiency, corrode your tank or even cause rumbling noises. Doctor Rooter Plumbing does provide this service throughout the Lexington, Richmond, and Berea areas, and a yearly hot water heater flush is included in our MEMBERSHIP PLANS!
5. Check the anode rod: The role of an anode rod is to decay overtime. It is made up of typically magnesium, aluminum, or zinc and attracts corrosive elements in the water to itself to help protect the steel tank from rust and premature failure. This typically must be replaced every 3-5 years. This must be inspected and replaced to prevent tank damage.
Even with regular DIY upkeep, having a professional plumber inspect your water heater annually is recommended to ensure that it is running safely and efficiently. Here at Doctor Rooter Plumbing our licensed plumbers can assist you with all your water heater maintenance needs in Central Kentucky (Lexington, Richmond, Berea, and surrounding areas)! This includes:
o Checking the gas lines leading to your water heater to ensure that there are no leaks
o Checking electrical connections
o Check the anode rod to ensure that it does not need to be replaced
o Flushing out your water heater to avoid sediment build up
o Check the thermostat settings to confirm that you are not using any extra energy
Staying on top of your water heater maintenance today will help prevent a costly replacement tomorrow. Contact Doctor Rooter Plumbing today if you need any assistance with your water heater!