Sunday, August 25, 2013

Effective Hot Water Heater Maintenance Tips

By Brian Winters


It's inconvenient having a broken hot water heater during chilly seasons. That is why you shouldn't take your heating system for granted, especially when you rely on it for producing hot water. Knowing the comfort of having warm water when taking showers, cleaning dishes and washing laundry is definitely worth investing for.

Avoid waking up to a broken water heater through regular water heater maintenance. It might be a daunting task without the help of a professional, especially if you are not familiar with your own heater. At times like this, contact a water heater specialist to ensure proper care and maintenance. Attempting to work on your unit alone can cause a problem to escalate.

Always take safety into account by shutting down the heating source of your water heater. Doing this avoids electric shocks and unnecessary disasters from happening during the maintenance period. It helps informing the members of your household about the scheduled maintenance to prevent them from switching the unit on. These safety precautions should not be overlooked to avoid putting your life in danger while performing water heater maintenance.

Look for rust stains around your plumbing connections. Water can easily leak if the connections are not tight enough. You can use a wrench to connect the pipes into place without over tightening them. You might have to replace the fittings if they are badly damaged. Wrap a Teflon tape around the threading to stop your pipes from leaking.

Preventing excessive pressure buildup is possible if your water heater comes with a relief valve. This valve should be working at all times to keep in in good condition, especially since it is responsible for releasing excessive pressure inside. You might have to install a relief valve if your water heater doesn't have one.

Unreleased pressure buildup can cause your water heater to overheat and blow up. You can test the valve by lifting the lever and allowing it to snap back on its own. Notice the water flow if it leaks right after closing the valve. Just be careful since hot water drips can give you scalding burns. If it's possible, you can turn off the water heater the night before inspecting it to avoid scalding water. Replace the valve as soon as it starts leaking.

Drain a gallon or two from the drain valve to release the sediments sitting at the bottom of the tank. Hard water minerals, if left inside the tank over a period of time, can cause your electric bill to soar. You can flush out the remaining sediments inside right after draining. Wait for a couple of minutes or until the water runs clear, free of sediments and filth.

Check the anode rod regularly to minimize the sediment buildup. This rod works like a magnet as it absorbs all charged water molecules while protecting your tank from corroding. Replace it as soon as you see metal wires around it. Using a water heater with a deteriorated anode rod would only result in a continuous sediment buildup.

The steps listed above shouldn't be so difficult to follow if you have a specialist to perform the maintenance. Keep your water heater running smoothly by hiring a reliable plumber for professional help.




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