6 Easy Steps to Water Heater Maintenance

Water heaters have an average life span of 10-12 years. Much like any home appliance, regular maintenance can extend the life of a water heater. Most manufacturers recommend annual service.

Consider these benefits to maintaining your water heater:

• Avoid a water heater failure, leaving you without hot water, especially with an older appliance.
• Identify potential leaks and prevent flooding or other water damage.
• Remove the chance for built up pressure in your water heater due to faulty pressure valves that could result in an explosion in your appliance.
• Reduce damage to pipes.
• Eliminate delays to repair or replace a malfunctioning water heater.

The best course of action to avoid disaster is to conduct regular water heater maintenance. Temperature settings, insulation and removing sediment build-up are critical steps. Simple steps like proper insulation can also reduce heat loss by up to 45%, saving you money in the long-term.

Rumbling noises are usually an indicator of sediment in your tank. Over time, especially if you have hard water, sediment can build up in the bottom of your tank. The noise is a result of the water heater working to raise the water temperature despite the blockage. Not only does the blockage create noise, it affects the efficiency and life span of the appliance. Annually drain and flush your water heater to remove the build-up.

The condition of the anode rod is equally important. If you are unsure about how to conduct any of the above steps, contact a trusted local plumber for water heater maintenance.

If your hot water heater is not functioning properly, use this check-list to trouble-shoot the issue.

Should I replace my water heater?

Depending on the age and condition of your current unit, and the incoming water quality, it may be a better investment to replace your heater with a new, more efficient unit. An expert plumber will evaluate all of these factors and help you to decide on your best option.

If the unit is in bad shape, replace it now before it starts leaking or the burner stops working. The mess that comes from waiting will often cost much more than replacing your heater on a proactive basis. Plus, it often makes sense to replace an inefficient water heater even if it’s in fair condition. The energy savings alone could pay for the new water heater after just a few years. You’ll be happy knowing that you won’t spend the expensive emergency service fees you could incur when old unit fails.

Learn more about plumbing services from Hague. Our expert staff of plumbers will evaluate your situation and suggest the best option.