Five Water Heater Maintenance Tips for Fall & Winter
When was the last time you flushed your water heater? Or how about the last time you replaced the anode rod? What about the insulation: do you know if your water heater has enough?
All of these and more should be part of your annual water heater maintenance, and if you haven't addressed these issues in a while, this fall and winter is a perfect time to get ahead. And if you're not sure where to start, here are five simple and usable tips to get going on your water heater maintenance.
Keeping Your Home and Family Safe
One: The TPR valve
This small but effective device could possibly save your life, and keep your home safe from an explosion. The purpose of this valve is to release water from the tank when the temperature or pressure becomes too high. And to make sure it's working properly, open the lever and check that water pours out the discharge pipe.
Two: Flushing the tank
Draining and refilling the water in your tank may seem wasteful, but it may help to know that flushing the tank can improve the efficiency of your unit, and save you money on your energy bills. Not only that but flushing the heater annually will prevent it from rusting prematurely, meaning you can go more years without having to replace the whole thing. And if you are worried about leasing the water, simply drain it into a bucket or rain barrel to use for later in the garden.
Three: Water Temperature
Did you know that you have the power to change the temperature of the water in your water heater? By adjusting the thermostat or the temperature setting, you can increase or decrease the temperature of the water coming out of your taps. Most experts these days recommend about 140 F, which is an ideal temperature for killing bacteria (anything higher and you risk scalding and burning skin). But if you want to save energy and money, you can set your water heater to 120 F. Just be aware that this isn't hot enough to kill certain bacteria, such as the one that causes Legionnaire’s disease.
Helping the Water Heater Perform
Four: Anode Rod
The anode rod in your water heater is a nifty device that prevents the inside of the tank from rusting. Because corrosive elements in the water are attracted to the anode rod instead of the tank, the rod corrodes and not the tank. You do have to inspect the anode rod regularly, and you'll have to replace it every five years or so.
Five: Pipe and Tank Insulation
Improving the efficiency of an older water heater can be as easy as installing insulation on the tank and the pipes. If you touch the outside of your water heater tank and it feels warm, it means you could benefit from extra insulation. Similarly, if there are no insulating sleeves on the pipes, then they could benefit from insulation as well. You’ll be able to increase the temperature of the water without upping the thermostat, and you'll save money on your energy bills.
Water heaters may seem like alien appliances to some homeowners, but they are actually very simple devices that require some pretty basic maintenance.
However, if you are uncomfortable performing any of these maintenance steps, or have questions about them, feel free to contact the plumbing and water heater specialists at Captain Rooter Emergency Plumbers in Chicago, IL. Call us today at 773-840-7800 for a consultation or to book an appointment.
