The water heater is an essential part of every home. It provides a reliable hot water supply, allowing you to shower and wash dishes easily, especially during colder months. That said, it can be troublesome if your heater suddenly malfunctions or breaks down.
Because of this, routine maintenance is crucial. Aside from ensuring functionality, doing so prevents excess wear and tear to your appliance, saving you from costly repairs and replacements. Here are some tips to help with water heater cleaning and maintenance:
Perform Inspections Regularly
Inspecting your water heater regularly helps ensure it’s in good working condition. It also allows you to catch signs of potential issues, like leaks, loose or faulty components, or cracks and corrosion that must be addressed. Learning about these problems at their early stages prevents more severe issues from occurring. To ensure an efficient inspection, hiring a professional plumber is also ideal.
Flush Your Water Heater
Draining your water heater tank at least once or twice a year is crucial. It helps clean the tank’s interior and flush out sediments, like rust and minerals, that have built up and can impact the overall efficiency of your appliance. Here’s what to remember when flushing your water heater:
- Turn off the gas or power first and close the cold water supply.
- Wait for the water to cool or open a hot water tap to speed up the process.
- Locate the drain valve, typically found at the bottom of the tank, and attach a garden hose to start draining.
- Check the draining water frequently for traces of rust or sediment and be alert for signs of leaks or strange sounds that could indicate an issue with your appliance.
- Fill up the tank all the way before turning the heater on.
Although you can flush your water heater alone, doing so still comes with safety risks, like accidentally burning yourself from scalding water. Flooding may also occur in case of any mistakes, causing inconvenience and significant property damage. Consulting a technician who can do the job will help you have peace of mind.
Lower the Temperature
While it may seem like a higher temperature offers a more reliable hot water supply, lowering it provides several advantages. Aside from saving money from reduced energy costs, a lower water heater temperature also extends your machine’s lifespan, as it’s less likely to suffer from excess strain. Instead of setting your heater to 140 degrees, adjust it to 120.
Check Your Anode Rod
The anode rod is an essential part of every water heater. It is a metal component made of either aluminum or magnesium, placed inside the tank to attract minerals and sediments. With this, the corrosive elements will target and wear down the anode rod instead of your water heater’s interior walls, protecting it from damage.
That said, replacing the anode rod regularly is critical for proper maintenance. Failure to do so can lead to excess sediment buildup and corrosion inside your heater’s tank, causing discolored or metal-tasting water. Check your water heater’s anode rod every 2 to 5 years, or more frequently, if you’ve noticed high levels of corrosion. Replace it with a new one as needed.
Insulate the Pipes
Aside from insulating your water heater tank, it’s also best to do this to the pipes connected to your machine. Pipe insulation helps retain hot water temperatures and prevents frozen pipes during winter, which can burst and cause significant water damage. You can insulate your pipes using foam, fiberglass, or rubber insulation.
Seek Professional Help
If you are unfamiliar with your water heater’s components or plumbing system in general, you can always hire an expert to help you. With their knowledge and experience, you can have peace of mind that your appliance is in good hands.
Professional plumbers can quickly spot issues with your water heater and perform the necessary repairs or procedures vital to restoring optimal functioning. With this preventive maintenance, you can avoid major heater problems from occurring and causing inconvenience down the line, which will likely involve costly solutions.
Get Trusted Drain Cleaning Services
By following this water heater cleaning and maintenance guide, you can minimize the risks of potential problems and lengthen your machine’s lifespan. Despite that, hiring an expert to do the job offers many benefits, including saving you time and money and ensuring efficient repair and maintenance. Contact a trusted plumbing company near you if you need routine inspection or professional drain cleaning services.
