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Are you looking to ensure your water heater’s longevity?
With the ongoing pandemic, more people are staying in their homes to work and keep themselves safe.
This means that they’re using their heating systems now more than ever as the cold season is also upon us.
Since heating and cooling account for up to 70 percent of the energy we use in the household, we’ll want to make sure that it’s as efficient as it can be.
Doing some water heater maintenance is an easy way to do this. You make sure nothing is wrong with your heating unit while fixing anything you find along the way.
However, some homeowners are unaware of some of the basics of water heaters.
To help you with this problem, read what’s below. We’ve prepared a simple guide for you to know everything you need to know about maintaining your water heater.
Flush Your Tank At Least Once a Year
The number one thing you should always do is flush out the heater’s tank at least once a year. This is to prevent any sediment build-up from forming within the tank.
The bigger the build-up is, the harder it is for the tank to heat up the water.
Not only will this mean that you’ll incur a bigger utility bill, but it will also mean that you have tons of impurities in the water you’re heating up.
This can be a major health hazard to you and your family if left alone. Prevention is the best course for avoiding this.
If you already notice some sediment build-up in your tank, though, you can still resolve the problem yourself.
All you need is a mix of vinegar and lye to soften the sediments. Flush out your tank first before adding the chemicals to avoid diluting them.
Leave the mixture in for a few hours and then flush the tank once more. Doing this should remove any of the build-ups around the bottom of the tank.
If there’s too much to remove in one go, though, it’s better to call some professionals.
Water heater repair from United Plumbing can remove the calcium build-up from your tank. They’ll also help you with any other problem they encounter along the way.
Tankless Heaters
Many homes have tankless water heaters installed nowadays. This doesn’t mean that you can rest easy, though.
Limestone residue can still build up in your heater’s pipes.
Like with calcium above, it will reduce the efficiency of your water heater and will pose a health hazard.
To prevent this, you can run some acidic solutions through the pipes at least once a year.
Make sure to shut off the heater when doing this to prevent the solution from reaching the pipes close to your faucets.
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Always Test Your TPR Valve
The Temperature/Pressure Release (TPR) valve of your tank is the most important part of the unit. This is the part that relieves the tank if there’s too much pressure building up inside.
It does so automatically, ensuring that the tank doesn’t explode.
This makes it important to check this every now and then to ensure the safety of your home.
To do this, place a bucket under the pipe connected to your TPR valve. You then lift the valve to see if releases water when lifted.
Be gentle in doing so as too much force can damage a valve even if it’s in good shape. If it doesn’t release water, though, you’ll end up replacing it, anyway.
All you need to do is turn off the water and drain the tank, first.
Remove the drain pipe, then unscrew the valve from it. Replace it with a new one and refill your heater. Turn it on and test if the valve works as intended.
Insulate Your Unit
If you want to keep your heater around as long as possible, it’s best to insulate it. Wrap it with some insulating foam to prevent as much heat from escaping into the atmosphere.
Doing this aid in your efforts to make your heater more efficient. This also takes a huge load off of your heater as it won’t need to exert much effort in maintaining your desired temperature.
Make sure to wrap the pipes with insulation, too. It will further aid in preventing heat from escaping into the surrounding air.
It will also prevent anyone from getting burned when they touch the pipes by accident.
Do Regular Checks on Your Anode Rods
Have you ever wondered why your water heater never rusts despite the conditions it’s in? This is all because of your anode rods. These rods will rust in place of the tank.
If your anode rods aren’t present, you’ll notice that your tank will start rusting from the inside. To prevent the need for water heater repair, you must check on these rods on the regular.
If they’ve rusted away more than 90 percent of their original body, replacing them is a must. This keeps your tank in peak condition and prevents it from corroding.
Clean Your Air Filter, Too
If you have a tankless water heater in your home, then you need not worry about rust eating away at it from the inside.
However, you do need to worry about debris going into your water supply.
This is often because you don’t have a clean air intake filter installed. If this is the case, then debris along with the limestone mentioned above can get inside the pipes with ease.
They can then damage the heater from within.
What’s great is that you can wash these filters by hand if you’re in a pinch. You can also replace them if you want.
Doing this ensures that your filters will last longer than when you clean old ones.
Know Everything You Need to Know About Water Heater Maintenance Today
There’s no need for you to worry about your heater getting broken or being inefficient with these water heater maintenance tips in mind.
Avoid common water heater problems and optimize your home heating today!
Do you want to learn more about home maintenance and design? Check out our guides to learn all you can! Use them to design your dream house today!
