3 Essential Water Heater Maintenance Steps
Have you recently bought your first home? Are you still in the process of moving in and unpacking your belongings? If this is your first home, you probably haven't yet given much thought to what it takes to keep your home running smoothly and without issues. If you're used to having a landlord, whether you're parents or an apartment manager, you may not yet realize all of the hidden efforts that can go into keeping a dwelling in working condition. One thing that you've probably never even given thought to is your water heater. It's simply there and it provides hot water on demand. However, water heaters do need proper care and maintenance in order to last as long as possible. Before you forget about this appliance again, here are some things to note:
Yearly draining: One essential part of water heater maintenance is draining it yearly. This cleans out any rust or sediment that has settled to the bottom of the water heater, helping to prolong the life of the water tank's lining. But if you're just moving in and the water heater is several years old, don't attempt to drain it without consulting with a professional first. If you drain and flush a water heater that hasn't had this done before, the sediment at the bottom may be helping to contain and stop tiny leaks. Unlike with new water heaters, cleaning out the sediment from a neglected water heater could actually result in leaks that will then force you to buy a new water heater.
Replace anode rod: In order to help prevent corrosion within the tank, a water heater has what's called an anode rod. This rod's whole job is to attract rust and corrosion materials rather than allowing them to be attracted to the tank walls. An anode rod should have an alarm that beeps once it has corroded enough to no longer be of use. Since alarms can sometimes fail, though, part of your water heater maintenance should be having your plumber check the rod to make sure that it is still in good condition.
Burner check: Your water heater may be giving you plenty of hot water now, but that's not guaranteed to last. While your plumber is checking out the anode rod, another water heater maintenance task that needs to be done is to check out the burner. Gas burners can clog or otherwise become damaged over time and electric coils/burners can simply fail. A good professional plumber will know the signs of failure and be able to alert you if it looks like your water heater is nearing the end. By doing this, you'll be able to more easily avoid waking up to a water heater that won't heat.
For water heater maintenance, contact a company such as Cascade Plumbing & Mechanical, LLC.