Sunday, July 14, 2013

Regular Water Heater Maintenance Tips

By Brian Winters


Without a doubt, performing regular water heater maintenance keeps your home supplied with enough hot water used for taking showers, washing dishes and clothes. That is why you have to sustain its heating efficiency to prevent it from breaking down completely. If you want to extend the life of your heating system, do not hesitate to maintain it every 4-6 months.

To avoid further damage, do not let the unit overheat. This will only affect the efficiency of your unit, leading to a high electric bill in the long run. Inspect whether your T&P valve is working properly or not. You can always ask help from a specialist if for proper T&P valve installation.

When the pressure builds up in your tank, water molecules eventually expand as it is being heated. Without proper pressure release, your water heater might overheat or worse, blow up. You can check the relief valve by lifting the lever to allow water to exit the tank. Upon releasing, water should have stopped draining at once. If not, this may call for a T&P valve replacement.

The gurgling sound you hear means the valve already relieved pressure by letting the water enter the drain pipe. However, if it doesn't work this way, you might have to replace your T&P valve as soon as possible. Make sure the fitting is tight enough to prevent water from leaking.

Change the temperature settings of the unit between 115 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Doing this avoids scalding accidents and overheating at the same time. However, there is no need to adjust the thermostat once you have a stable temperature. A high temperature of 135 degrees Fahrenheit can scald the skin in a matter of 5 seconds. This step is important, especially if you have children in the house.

Flush out the sediments inside the tank to prevent rust and corrosion from eating the internal components inside it. You can drain the water heater on a semi-annual basis to remove hard water mineral deposit. Filth inside the tank can affect the heating efficiency of the water heater, resulting to poor unit operation. Once the internal tank gets hit by rust, you have no choice but to buy a replacement unit.

You can start draining by connecting a standard hose to the drain valve. Make sure the cold water supply valve is turned off during the process to keep water from entering the tank. Place the other end of the hose to a secure drainage area to avoid scalding. Open the drain valve and release the water until the tank is empty. You may notice some sediments sitting at the bottom of the tank after draining. You can flush them out by placing a bucket under the drain valve and opening the cold water valve. Expect to see rusty-colored water coming out of the tank and wait until the water runs clear. Refill the tank first before turning on the water heater.

Proper care and maintenance are needed for every water heater to operate smoothly. If you are not confident enough in maintaining your water heater alone, contact a specialist for professional help. Doing this avoids frequent costly repairs in the future. Start performing water heater maintenance while there is time.




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