Keeping your water hot
How often do you practice water heater maintenance? If you’re like most homeowners, probably never. We have a new water heater installed and life goes on every day with bathing, cleaning, and cooking. Until the water starts giving us problems again, maybe 10 years later. In our piece today, we’re going to answer some basic questions about How to maintain a water heater and help you get more than 10 years from your water heater.
To get a longer lifespan from your water heater, you should have a Water heater maintenance checklist and follow it just as you do for changing the HVAC air filter and other household duties. How do you maintain a water heater? Here are six easy and inexpensive things water heater maintenance steps that will extend the lifespan of the water heater and increase its operating efficiency. Following these steps, you can avoid expensive Water heater maintenance and repairs.
1. The TPR Valve
- Turn off the power and the cold-water supply.
- With a bucket placed under the pipe connection to the TPR (temperature-pressure-release) valve, usually located on the top or side of the water tank.
- Lift the tab to release some water from the tank then let go. If water doesn’t stop flowing, partially drain the tank and with pipe wrench, unscrew the old valve and install a new TPR valve.
2. The Anode Rod
- Attach a hose to the drain cock on the tank to release some water.
- Using a 1 and 1/16-inch socket with hex head, unscrew the rod and if there is half inch thick calcium build-up, replace it with a new one, wrapping the threads with plumber tape and return to tank, securely tightening it.
3. Drain Tank, Rinse Out Sediment
- Drain any remaining water into the bucket and open the cold-water valve to stir up the sediment in the tank’s bottom. Drain and repeat the process until clean water is coming from the hose
- Shut the drain cock and refill the tank, the turn the power on.
4. Tweak the Temperature
- Unscrew the cover on the temperature dial and with a flathead screwdriver, remove the cover and adjust the temperature dial to 120 degrees. For every ten degrees you lower the temperature, you’ll save as much as five percent in energy costs.
- If you’re not home for 3 or more days, you can turn the water heater off or turn the thermostat down to the lowest setting.
5. Pipe Insulation
- Slide 3/8-inch-thick foam insulation that will matches the pipe diameter over both the cold and hot water pipes.
6. Heater Insulation
- Cut an insulating blanket so that it fits around pipes, temperature control, and TPR valve that are outside the tank.
- Wrap the tank and then use foil tape to seal the cuts. Do not cover the top!
Do water heaters need maintenance?
A water heater is like any other basic household appliance – it needs to be maintained and kept up to get a longer lifespan. When a water heater maintenance is properly cared for, you can get up to 12 to 15 years lifespan. Recognizing the following signs and addressing them as soon as possible, you could extend its lifespan, or have is professionally repaired or replaced before it leaves you without hot water.
Inconsistent or no heat
Obviously, if there is not any hot water at all, there is a problem with the water heater. If the heat is fluctuating, that is an indication the heating element is covered in mineral deposits, blocking, and interfering the heating process.
Low pressure
Mineral build-ups can block the water pipes that are connected to the water heater.
Strange sounds
A water heater should naturally make some sounds, but when those sounds get so loud they are disturbing the household, it may be time to replace the unit. Loud banging, cracking, or popping sounds need to be addressed.
Water pooling at base
If the water heater has water puddled around the base or is leaking, it could be under high pressure that needs to be released or it could be cracked and needs to be replaced.
What is the lifespan of a water heater?
Water heaters did good to last ten years not that long ago, but today, water heaters are designed better and last longer than those older models. With water heater maintenance routine, a water heater can last as long twelve, even fifteen years. The condition of the water running through the water heater can affect the lifespan as well. This is why water heater maintenance is so important to stay on top of with a regular routine.
How do you know your water heater is going?
Here are four signs you have a bad water heater and should schedule your plumber soon to replace the unit:
- Water heater age: Knowing how old your water heater is will tell you that is nearing the end of life. The serial number on the tank will usually provide that information.
- Rusty water: When rusty water is coming out of the hot water faucet, this indicates the tank has rusted inside and will only be a short time before it busts through and starts leaking.
- Noises and rumbling: The older a water heater gets, the more sediment build ups inside and on the bottom. That sediment hardens and the water isn’t able to flow through and heat as efficient as it should.
- Water on floor: If you notice water around the base and on the floor, the tank may have a crack and is leaking on the floor as it contracts and expands.
We recommend a routine of regular water heater maintenance, but how often should a water heater be serviced? For most homeowners, it is recommended a water should be flushed every six months. If you live in an area with hard water, you may consider installing a water softener and flushing your water heater every three months. Need water heater maintenance in Chattanooga, TN? Call 423-718-7342 today.
