Monday, August 26, 2013

Quick And Easy Water Heater Maintenance

By Brian Winters


Water heaters are one of the most important appliances in every household since it provides enough hot water used for taking showers, washing dishes and doing the laundry. Having a broken water heater can be irritating, especially when it causes too much of an inconvenience. When this happens, look for signs of damage in the early stage. Ask help from a specialist if you find yourself lost in carrying out water heater repairs.

To avoid electric shocks and fatal accidents, shut down the heating source of the water heater before inspecting it. If you have an electric heater, switch the power off in the circuit breaker. Gas supply valve should be turned off if you have a gas water heater. Let everyone in your household know about the maintenance to prevent them from using the water heater during the process.

Do not allow water to enter the tank during the repair process. You can do this by shutting down the cold water supply near the top of the tank. Sometimes, you may need to drain your tank for thorough inspection. Be careful of scalding water and make sure to wipe water puddles around the base of the unit. Experts recommend shutting down the water heater the night before inspecting it to avoid scalding water.

Have you noticed your water heater leaking? If so, tighten all the loose pipe connections around your tank. Use a wrench to tighten the fitting without over tightening the connections. You may have a major leaking problem if you see rust stains around the pipe fitting. When this happens, check what pipes are needed to be replaced to avoid further damage. You can use a Teflon tape to wrap around the threading to stop water from leaking in your pipes.

Next thing to check is your T&P relief valve. This safety valve is responsible for releasing excessive pressure inside the tank to protect it from overheating, or worst, blowing up. Always make sure this valve is working at all times to prevent accidents. If it's loose, simply tighten the valve into place. Lower the temperature down to avoid excessive pressure buildup.

Test the relief valve by lifting its lever while allowing water to exit the tank. Release it and let it snap back on its own to stop the water flow. If you notice your T&P valve leaking, replace it immediately. Ask help from a trusted professional for proper T&P valve installation.

Prevent the sediments from building up by draining and flushing the tank every six months. Start by connecting a garden hose to the drain valve and run the other end to a floor drain or gutter. For easy drainage, open a hot water tap inside your house. Release the drain valve and let the water drain until the tank is empty.

To remove the sediments sitting at the bottom of the tank, flush them out by turning on the cold water supply of the heater. Make sure to place a bucket below the valve to catch the filth. Wait for a couple of minutes until the water runs clear. You can now close the drain valve and refill the tank.

These easy steps shouldn't be so difficult to follow if you have a specialist around. Remember, water heaters don't come cheap at all. That is why you have to extend its life while sustaining its efficiency at the same time. You can achieve this by performing regular water heater maintenance. Contact a specialist for professional water heater services.




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