Water heaters are usually taken for granted until it stops operating smoothly. At times like this, it is better to ask help from a specialist to handle your water heater concerns. However, you can avoid spending too much money on repairs if you perform regular water heater maintenance. Periodic maintenance helps extends the life of your water heater. If you don't have enough experience in working with your unit, ask help from a professional immediately.
Always consider your safety before carrying out any repairs. Avoid electric shocks and fatal accidents by turning off the circuit breaker or gas supply valve of your heating system. Wipe water puddles near the base of the tank to avoid splashing water on the electrical conduits. You can stop your pipes from leaking temporarily by shutting down your cold water-supply valve. Water heaters can convert into dangerous appliances if not maintained regularly. Protect your family from harm before it's too late.
Most water heater tanks are glass lines to prevent rust from developing. However, varying temperatures inside the tank can cause it to expand and crack, resulting to small hole openings. As soon as water starts to seep, it will be easy for rust to eat the internal components of your tank. This can be troublesome, since letting rust and sediments sit inside your tank for a long time can eat your tank overtime. Once water is heated, calcium carbonate forms in the water constantly. These sediments can cause your hot water heater to decrease its heating efficiency in the long run. If you have an electric water heater, expect your heating element to malfunction once the sediments get too excessive for the tank to handle. You can minimize rust and mineral deposits by flushing and draining your tank regularly.
You can start by draining and flushing your tank to get rid of the sediments. Experts recommend repeating this step every six months to prevent rust and corrosion from developing. To drain, attach a standard hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Shut off the cold water valve and release pressure by opening the T&P valve. Open the drain valve until the tank is empty. Flush the remaining sediments by removing the hose and placing a bucket under the drain valve. Open the cold water valve and wait until the water runs clear. Make sure to open a hot water tap inside your house prior to refilling the tank. Do not turn on the heating source until the tank is full.
Maintain your tank's efficiency by checking your anode rod regularly. This sacrificial rod is suspended inside the tank to absorb all the sediments that can damage your tank. Usually, an anode rod can last 5 to 10 years without regular maintenance. It is recommended to check this rod every year to see how much it has deteriorated. If the rod measures less than of an inch and is completely covered with lime, replace it immediately. Change the rod by shutting the cold water-supply valve located at the top of your tank. Unscrew the nut that suspends the rod and install a new rod by inserting it inside the tank. Do not forget to re-tighten the nut to suspend the rod in place. Open the cold water-supply valve once you have finished replacing it.
If your water heater starts to be inefficient, you might want to check its heating element. These are usually screwed into the side of the tank, one high and one low. Check the low heating element and replace it to get rid of the calcium carbonate coating. Always make sure the electricity is shut down by testing it with an electrical tester. Turn off the cold water-supply valve and open the T&P valve. Drain the tank and locate the heating element by opening its cover near the bottom area. Remove all the electrical and ground wires and unscrew the heating element. Buy a replacement and repeat the process in a reverse. Do not turn on the power until the tank is filled with water.
To maintain the hot temperature of your water heater, adjust the thermostat settings to 120F. Doing this saves a lot of energy and prevents your tank from overheating. Once you have a stable temperature, there is no need to change it from time to time. Having a lower temperature protects your tank from the dangers of scalding water. It is said that temperature over 135F can burn the skin as fast as 5 seconds. You may have a high temperature if your unit pops and cracks more often than the usual. Contact a specialist if the problem persists.
Maintaining a water heater shouldn't be so difficult if you follow the steps written above. If you encounter problems during the maintenance process, contact a specialist immediately. Consider the importance of water heater maintenance before your unit stops operating permanently.
Always consider your safety before carrying out any repairs. Avoid electric shocks and fatal accidents by turning off the circuit breaker or gas supply valve of your heating system. Wipe water puddles near the base of the tank to avoid splashing water on the electrical conduits. You can stop your pipes from leaking temporarily by shutting down your cold water-supply valve. Water heaters can convert into dangerous appliances if not maintained regularly. Protect your family from harm before it's too late.
Most water heater tanks are glass lines to prevent rust from developing. However, varying temperatures inside the tank can cause it to expand and crack, resulting to small hole openings. As soon as water starts to seep, it will be easy for rust to eat the internal components of your tank. This can be troublesome, since letting rust and sediments sit inside your tank for a long time can eat your tank overtime. Once water is heated, calcium carbonate forms in the water constantly. These sediments can cause your hot water heater to decrease its heating efficiency in the long run. If you have an electric water heater, expect your heating element to malfunction once the sediments get too excessive for the tank to handle. You can minimize rust and mineral deposits by flushing and draining your tank regularly.
You can start by draining and flushing your tank to get rid of the sediments. Experts recommend repeating this step every six months to prevent rust and corrosion from developing. To drain, attach a standard hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Shut off the cold water valve and release pressure by opening the T&P valve. Open the drain valve until the tank is empty. Flush the remaining sediments by removing the hose and placing a bucket under the drain valve. Open the cold water valve and wait until the water runs clear. Make sure to open a hot water tap inside your house prior to refilling the tank. Do not turn on the heating source until the tank is full.
Maintain your tank's efficiency by checking your anode rod regularly. This sacrificial rod is suspended inside the tank to absorb all the sediments that can damage your tank. Usually, an anode rod can last 5 to 10 years without regular maintenance. It is recommended to check this rod every year to see how much it has deteriorated. If the rod measures less than of an inch and is completely covered with lime, replace it immediately. Change the rod by shutting the cold water-supply valve located at the top of your tank. Unscrew the nut that suspends the rod and install a new rod by inserting it inside the tank. Do not forget to re-tighten the nut to suspend the rod in place. Open the cold water-supply valve once you have finished replacing it.
If your water heater starts to be inefficient, you might want to check its heating element. These are usually screwed into the side of the tank, one high and one low. Check the low heating element and replace it to get rid of the calcium carbonate coating. Always make sure the electricity is shut down by testing it with an electrical tester. Turn off the cold water-supply valve and open the T&P valve. Drain the tank and locate the heating element by opening its cover near the bottom area. Remove all the electrical and ground wires and unscrew the heating element. Buy a replacement and repeat the process in a reverse. Do not turn on the power until the tank is filled with water.
To maintain the hot temperature of your water heater, adjust the thermostat settings to 120F. Doing this saves a lot of energy and prevents your tank from overheating. Once you have a stable temperature, there is no need to change it from time to time. Having a lower temperature protects your tank from the dangers of scalding water. It is said that temperature over 135F can burn the skin as fast as 5 seconds. You may have a high temperature if your unit pops and cracks more often than the usual. Contact a specialist if the problem persists.
Maintaining a water heater shouldn't be so difficult if you follow the steps written above. If you encounter problems during the maintenance process, contact a specialist immediately. Consider the importance of water heater maintenance before your unit stops operating permanently.
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