How Can You Keep Your Water Heater Working Properly Longer?
Your home's water heater is an integral part of ensuring the safety and comfort of everyone who lives there. What can you do to help it do its job the best it can? In fact, any homeowner can take a few simple steps to promote safety, longevity, and energy efficiency. Discover a few of these routine maintenance and upkeep steps.
Keep the Water Heater Safe
With any appliance like a water heater, safety must always come first. Modern water heaters are designed with important safety features, such as the tank pressure relief valve. However, the homeowner is a key player in keeping these functions working as they are designed.
Start by learning about the basic safety features of your unit. Learn how to shut off the water and electricity or gas that feeds the heater. Practice turning these off, and make sure others in the household also know how. If you live in regions that suffer extreme weather or earthquakes, add protective straps to avoid the unit falling and severing the gas lines.
In an annual checkup, test the tank pressure relief (TPR) valve as well. This valve near the top of the water heater opens automatically if pressure inside the tank rises to an unsafe level. The valve should open relatively easily and release some water. Look for leaks or indications that it is not responsive. Replace the valve if you have any concerns about its function.
Keep the Water Heater Going
The longer your current appliance lasts, the less you will pay to replace it. But can you really extend its lifetime? You can. Regular inspections and minor repairs or maintenance is vital. Have a professional inspect the unit once per year and perform small fixes. This prevents small issues from growing into big ones.
As a homeowner, you can also work to keep the water heater functioning well and slow down deterioration by flushing the tank once or twice per year. This gets rid of sediment that naturally builds up on the tank bottom.
Finally, check the sacrificial anode rod inside the tank. This rod's purpose is to attract minerals and metals to itself so they do not corrode the tank instead. As it is used up, replace it with a new one.
Keep the Water Heater Efficient
Do you want to reduce electric and gas bills? Most people do. However, you probably also do not want to sacrifice the comfort of the hot water it is supposed to provide. The good news is that you can get both.
Start by turning the water heater's temperature down a little. Most households find that a slightly lower temperature does not impact their ability to enjoy hot showers and sanitary cooking — but a lower temperature saves plenty of money. Turn it down even further when leaving for trips or vacations.
In addition, you may want to better insulate the water heater and its hoses to reduce heat loss. Wrap the tank itself — although not the wiring and fixtures — in insulation as advised by a water heater professional. If you have a problem with condensation or extreme temperature changes, you might also wrap the hoses with insulating foam once these are away from the tank.
Is your water heater in its best condition? Is it safe and efficient? If you are not sure or you want help learning how to perform routine maintenance tasks like these, start by meeting with the team at Briarwood Heating and Cooling. We will inspect and assess your water heater, then help you draft a plan to prolong its life and keep it energy-efficient. Call today to make an appointment.
