Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Maintain Your Hot Water Heater Today

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.

Start performing water heater maintenance if you don't want to wake up to a broken unit. Some homeowners find it daunting to maintain their water heaters, especially if they have a lot on their plate. If you don't feel comfortable in doing it on your own, call a specialist immediately. Maintain your unit with help of a professional to prevent the situation from worsening.

Always take safety into account before inspecting your water heater. Make sure the heating source and water supply is turned off. Experiencing electric shocks during the repair process is possible, especially if your water heater is still switched. It helps informing everyone in your household about the scheduled maintenance to prevent them from using the unit while the repair is ongoing. Doing these steps should protect your unnecessary disasters your water heater can bring.

Start by checking your plumbing connections and look for rust stains around it. If the connections are not tight enough, expect water to leak easily. Connect and tighten the pipes using a wrench without over tightening the fittings. Replace badly damaged pipes as soon as possible to protect other areas from rusting. Stop your pipes from leaking by wrapping a Teflon tape around the threading.

In handling pressure, the water heater comes equipped with a relief valve. This safety valve should be inspected every year to keep it in tip-top shape and release excessive pressure inside the tank. If your water heater doesn't come with a relief valve, install one immediately.

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.

Minimize the sediment buildup by making sure your anode rod has not completely deteriorated. This sacrificial rod protects the internal components and lining from rusting as it absorbs all charged water molecules inside. Replace the anode rod if you see metal wires around it. Draining and flushing your tank with a corroded rod will do you no good in the long run.

These steps shouldn't be so difficult to follow, especially with the help of a specialist. Contact your local lumber and start keeping your water heater in its tip-top shape.




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