How to Care for Your Water Heater?

Water heater repair

 

A water heater is an essential appliance at home. It works hard for you, especially during the winters by providing warm baths, sparkling pans and pots, and clean clothes. Consequently, you must follow a proper water heater maintenance routine and keep it running efficiently for longer periods.

With the help of a maintenance schedule, you will be able to use the water heater for its 15-year expected lifetime, and maybe even more. You must also follow a maintenance routine for drain cleaning in San Jose to ensure that your plumbing systems are in proper working condition. Take a look at these simple care tips:

Fix the thermostat at 120 degrees

For every 10 degrees that you lower the temperature, your energy costs will reduce by 5%. Moreover, the chances of scalding will also reduce.

Always keep a clearance of 2 feet

When you hire plumbers in San Jose for water heater installation, make sure they keep 2 feet of clearance around the appliance. This additional space allows for easy inspection and repair in the future. Besides, water heaters run on electricity to produce hot water. They must have sufficient space for proper ventilation. Refer to the manual for a better understanding of how much free area you need around the water heater.

Frequently remove debris and sediment

It is recommended that you drain around a quarter of the tank a couple of times every year. For this, you need to cease the supply of cold water and then create a connection between the drain valve and a garden hose. Next, remove all the water into a tub or a bucket. The water will have debris and sediment. Continue to drain till it becomes clear.

If the water remains cloudy for long, open the water supply valve for a little while. This will stir up the leftover sediment. You can now drain the tank again. The unit begins to run with lesser noise after this activity.

Annually check the temperature-pressure relief valve

It is a good idea to examine the temperature-pressure relief valve once per year. You can do this by discharging the valve twice or thrice in a year. After you complete the test, make sure you keep checking for minor valve leaks.

Keep an eye on the sacrificial anode rod

Loosen the hex head screw to remove the sacrificial anode rod. Examine the rod every three years to ensure that it is in proper working condition. If you notice any kind of problem, contact a professional plumber for water heater repair in San Jose. A sacrificial anode rod requires replacement if:

  • Over 6″ of the core steel is exposed
  • The thickness of the rod is less than ½ inch
  • There is a calcium coating on the rod

Insulate units if they are old

Use a fiberglass jacket to insulate the water heater. This helps to improve efficiency. However, make sure you avoid touching the flue. The latest models are already insulated, and you don’t need to do anything. Read the owner’s manual for more details. In addition, remember to insulate the cold and hot pipes.

Use the Vacation setting

If you are using a gas heater, set the thermostat to the vacation setting before leaving town. This setting keeps the heater idle. Heating begins only one day before the programmed return.

About Bryan

Hi, I am Bryan, a seasoned plumbing expert with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Renowned for my meticulous attention to detail and exceptional problem-solving skills, I have successfully and effectively handled numerous plumbing issues, ensuring top-quality service and customer satisfaction with every project I take on!