November 08, 2016
Water Heater Maintenance Tips
Water Heater Maintenance In Dallas
Water heater maintenance is one of the most important yet overlooked things homeowners need to take care of. When you first move into your new house it is very important that you inspect the water heater and make sure that is working properly. You can also hire someone to do this for you.
Water heaters are great at saving energy. But, to maintain that energy efficiency, it is important to flush mineral deposits from the unit about once a year. This is easier and less costly than you might think.
Water Heater Maintenance At Home
Your water heater may be one of the appliances in your home you take for granted — until it stops working and you wind up in a chilly shower. Here are some maintenance tips to consider when it comes to your home water heater.
Why Do It?
A water heater needs to be properly drained as part of its regular maintenance. Draining helps ensure the long life of your water heater by flushing out minerals and other debris that may cause it to malfunction, says DIY Network. If you do not properly maintain your water heater, it may cease to function altogether or result in cold bursts of water when least expected.
DIY Draining
Once you’ve located your water heater and read over your owner’s manual, the DIY Network suggests the following steps on how to drain it. Don’t forget, if you’re uncomfortable performing this type of maintenance on your water heater, make sure to call a plumber and schedule a professional draining.
- Shut off the water supply to your water heater. Look at the top of the water heater. You’ll see a water pipe and a water shutoff valve going into the heater. Turn this valve to shut off the water to the tank.
- Turn off the power to the water heater. If your heater is electric, shut the power off from the circuit breaker box. The correct fuse should be labeled as belonging to the water heater. It’s important to know that if you fail to shut off the power to your electric water heater, you risk burning out the element. If it’s a gas-powered water heater, shut off the gas by turning the valve on the gas supply line that runs to the tank.
- Give the water some time to cool off. The water in your water heater is extremely hot. To help prevent injury, it’s a good idea to let your water heater sit overnight to allow the water within the tank some time to cool before you drain it.
- Attach a hose to the drain valve. Once your water heater has cooled down,place one end of the hose into a floor drain or, if it will reach, directly outside. Attach the other end onto the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater.
- Turn on the hot water tap. To help alleviate pressure, open on a hot water tap, like a sink faucet, nearest to your water heater.
- Open the drain valve. Once you open this valve, the water will begin to flow out of the tank. Be patient; draining the water heater can take up to 30 minutes depending on how full and dirty the water heater is. Read more…
The Benefits of Water Heaters
Water heater systems are more expensive to install up front than storage systems. However, they compensate with their energy-efficiency and longevity. Check with a water heater installation expert to find out of the energy savings will offset the costs of purchasing the system. In some cases, a storage water heater is a better choice, but you may be surprised to learn how much you can save in the long run with an installation of a water heater system.