Sunday, 18 August 2013

How To Maintain A Water Heater

By Brian Winters


Taking care of small household matters can be overlooked easily, especially since we live in a fast-paced society. This includes regular water heater maintenance and inspections. Most homeowners neglect to take time checking their units until they start producing insufficient hot water. At this point, it is important to take immediate action to avoid costly water heater repairs in the long run.

Your water heater can turn into a dangerous heating device if not inspected and handled properly. Protect yourself from unfortunate accidents by closing the gas supply valve or shutting down the circuit breaker before carrying out repairs. Do not forget to turn off the water supply to stop water from entering the tank.

Inspect your pipes and look for rust stains around it. The plumbing connections should be attached securely to prevent water from leaking. If the pipe fittings are too rusty, replace them immediately to avoid contaminating the water running in your pipes. You can wrap a Teflon tape around the threading or use a sealant to stop water heater leaks.

It is possible that your dip tube has corroded if you keep on having cold water running in your hot water pipes. The dip tube is designed to lead cold water down to the burner for it to be heated properly. If you have a rusty dip tube, cold water can hit the hot water pipes without being properly heated. If you need to replace your dip tube, contact a specialist as soon as possible to continue having access to hot water.

Excessive sediment buildup can affect the efficiency and performance of your water heater. If the sediments are not flushed out regularly, expect your heater to produce insufficient hot water for the entire household. You can minimize the buildup by checking the state of your anode rod. This rod protects the internal lining and components from rusting as it absorbs all the charged water molecules inside. Once it measures less than of an inch, replace it as soon as possible.

Water can easily leak if you have a faulty T&P valve. Your relief valve is designed to release pressure inside the tank once it builds up. The higher the temperature is, the more the relief valve opens and release water and pressure at the same time. You can change the thermostat settings to a lower temperature between 120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

If the relief valve continues to leak, it is best to replace it to solve the problem. You can test it by lifting the lever and allowing it to snap back on its own to observe the water flow. If you see water drips coming out of the valve, have it replaced immediately.

Lastly, draining and flushing the water heater helps reduce the hard water minerals sitting inside the tank. Experts recommend draining and flushing the water heater every six months to sustain its heating efficiency. If you don't feel confident in maintaining your water heater on your own, you can always ask a specialist for professional help. Attempting to repair it alone can cause the problem to escalate, eventually leading to unnecessary disasters in the long run.




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