We use hot water so much throughout the day without ever even thinking about it, thanks to the convenience that a water heater provides. But things become inconvenient fast once that appliance gives up the ghost. Water heaters rarely fail suddenly. Signs usually appear long before you have major trouble on your hands. Fortunately, with some basic knowledge about how your water heater functions, you can act well before a total breakdown occurs.
Scheduling Maintenance
You may think that it is fine to go a few years without service calls because you have no problems with getting the hot water you need. But this is a mistake. Problems could be festering beneath the surface. Once they appear, you may have to pay significant repair costs or replace the water heater if the situation is bad enough.
Schedule service calls annually. A plumber will inspect the water heater to confirm that nothing is amiss. If you have a gas appliance, they will make sure that the burners function properly. They will also ensure that there are no issues with combustion that could endanger your family. If the plumber encounters any issues at all, they will let you know and work with you to fix them.
Flushing Out the Sediment
Minerals in the water, such as magnesium and calcium, can create sediment that builds up in water heaters and interferes with their performance. These minerals can settle on the bottom of your water heater tank and form a crusty layer that creates a barrier between the water and the burner. This will force the appliance to run a whole lot longer. You may start hearing popping and rumbling noises as the steam pockets burst through that thick layer.
Annual flushing prevents this. Have a plumber flush your tank so that you can avoid property damage or injuring yourself and your loved ones with scalding water.
Sediment can also impair the operation of a tankless model. Minerals can accumulate enough to block water flow and cause the burners to run much longer to heat the water. This buildup can cause so much wear and tear that the heat exchanger breaks, allowing poisonous gas to leak into the air you breathe. A plumber can use a special solution to flush tankless models to keep them in good shape.
Replacing the Anode Rod
The anode rod is an important component in traditional models because it sacrifices itself to keep the tank from rusting and bursting. Water is naturally corrosive. This rod contains active metals that attract these minerals so that it can take the brunt of the corrosion instead of letting the tank do so. This component must be replaced every five years.
Getting the Temperature Right
Many water heater manufacturers ship units with the temperature set to 140 degrees, which is hot enough to cause serious burns in about three seconds. To keep your family safe and save money on utility costs, set the temperature to 120 degrees.
Now, put this knowledge to work, and give your water heater the maintenance it needs. You’ll save yourself the headache of stressful hot water emergencies and expensive repair bills. If you live in Waukesha, WI or a surrounding area and need water heater services, make your first call to Jeff’s Custom Care.