Your hot water heater is an indispensable home appliance that you should use and take care of properly. Aside from the fact that reckless utilization and neglect may ‘cause it to break down, It’s not even a cheap investment to begin with. So just to make sure that you’ll not see your hard-earned money go to waste, you have to implement proper maintenance. This includes both preventive measures and regular upkeep which are designed to lessen the possibility of your water heating system’s failure and instead prolongs its life span.
1. Keep the thermostat at 120 degrees.
This is a rule of thumb when it comes to water heater maintenance. Raising the temperature to the hilt will not only cause damage on your system but will also add up on your utility bill significantly. You should also remember that the Department of Energy also recommends this temperature level. Following this practice will prevent scalding as well as lessen mineral buildup in your pipes and tank.
2. Clean it regularly.
Regularly clean your water heater. Water contains minerals that accumulate at the bottom of tank-type heating systems. Because of this buildup, it will take more time for the system to heat water thereby consuming more energy.
3. Use less hot water.
We’re not saying that you should skip a bath or not wash your dishes at night. You can simply lessen the use of hot water and let your heating system relax a little bit by making use low-flow faucet aerators and shower heads. If you have a dishwasher, modify its setting to “economy”. Instead of pre-washing dishes, you can just simply degrease your plates and load them into the washer. This will also cut your expenses on your water bill and at the same time help the environment by conserving water.
4. Check the anode rod.
Check on your anode rod regularly. When the water is acidic, it will eat up on your anode rod instead of hurting your water heater’s wall. So if your anode rod is still as good as new, it’s possible that that it’s not working, it’s not the right type of rod or that there is something wrong. Seek a professional to have it figured out.
5. Add insulation.
Insulate your water heater tank and its exposed pipes especially if they are located in an unheated area. Nowadays, new heater models already have built-in insulation so you might want to check on that. Make sure that the insulation you’ll set up won’t block the thermostat.
6. Drain and flush.
Drain and flush your water heater occasionally depending on the water conditions in your locality. If you live in an area where there’s high mineral content in your water, then you should drain your heating system more often. Otherwise, an annual draining and flushing will do. This is very important to prevent sediment buildups in your water heater, maximize the use of energy, lessen your electric bill and at the same time lengthen your system’s life span. Just make sure that you’ll follow the procedure properly to prevent accidents.
We hope that you learned a lot from this article. And should you need water heater maintenance in Miami, don’t panic and just call a licensed and trained plumber near you! Douglas Orr Plumbing sends out only the most reliable technicians to deliver top-notch plumbing services including septic tank and grease traps installation and maintenance, sewer cleaning, leak detection and many more! Call us at(305) 240-6731!
Want to learn more about water heater care? Watch this video!