Your water heater is such an important plumbing fixture. As with the rest of your plumbing system and other equipment in your home, it is critical that you maintain a water heater to keep it running and prolong its service life.
To maintain a water heater, you don’t have to be a plumber! There are many steps Indianapolis homeowners are able to perform to properly maintain a water heater. Our Indianapolis plumbers have outlined some key advice to make water heater maintenance as easy as can be!
Of course, if you are not comfortable performing the steps to maintain a water heater on your own, do not hesitate to give our skilled Indianapolis plumbers a call. Water heater maintenance is part of what we do and we are happy to assist you!
To maintain a water heater, there are a few different processes involved. Our Indianapolis plumbers discuss the different steps that help you care for your equipment and properly maintain a water heater.
It doesn’t matter if your water heater runs on gas or electricity, all tank-style water heaters are equipped with a pressure relief valve. This valve opens to release pressure if the tank is under too much pressure. If this valve is malfunctioning, an over-pressurized water heater poses an explosion risk.
To maintain a water heater pressure valve, suit up with protective gear just in case. Wear full-coverage clothing, gloves, and goggles. Follow these steps to maintain a water heater pressure valve:
If the pressure relief valve is in good working condition, once the trip lever is flipped, you hear a small air rush from the valve, or you may see a minor amount of water or vapor exiting the valve. If none of these indicators occur, you need to have the pressure relief valve replaced. The tank needs to be drained in order to do so.
Tank water heaters need to be flushed annually. Over time, sediment from the water that moves in and out of the tank drops to the bottom. It builds up, which affects the water heater’s efficiency. Sediment in the water heater also has the potential to cause clogs in your water lines.
Maintain a water heater tank to improve the service life of your system with the following steps:
Did you know your water heater’s thermostat is likely set higher than you need? Not only does this waste energy, it’s not good for the water heater. Higher hot water temperatures speed up corrosion and allow sediment and minerals from water to build up more quickly within the tank. Water that is too hot also poses a scalding risk to your household.
Some water heaters are factory set to 140 degrees, but 120 degrees is more than enough for most Indianapolis households. Maintain a water heater by setting temperatures to no higher than 120 degrees.
Follow these steps to adjust water heater temperature:
Anytime you are away from home for three or more days, maintain a water heater by turning its thermostat down to its lowest setting, or turn the water heater off. This conserves energy and gives your water heater a break while you are gone.
Tank water heaters constantly consume energy to keep stored water warm. Lots of heating energy is lost while in standby mode. Prevent this energy loss, get warmer water with less energy consumption, and maintain a water heater when you add insulation.
The instructions on how to maintain a water heater above concern tank models, but tankless water heaters need maintenance, too! Maintain a water heater that is tankless when you perform the following steps.
Tankless water heaters are prone to mineral scale buildup as water passes through the system. Scale buildup has the potential to greatly reduce the energy efficiency of your tankless water heater, negating the reason you likely installed it in the first place!
The amount of scale in a tankless water heater really varies from one home to the next, as water quality greatly differs. Remove the scale from your tankless model and maintain a water heater with the following steps:
To maintain a water heater, the steps may be more complicated than you bargained for. While water heater maintenance is a comfortable DIY task for some Indianapolis homeowners, for others it is not. In this case, call Mr. Plumber to maintain a water heater and protect your hot water system from damage caused by normal system use.
Ready to schedule water heater maintenance? Call Mr. Plumber of Indianapolis today to book maintenance for your tank or tankless water heater. Our Indianapolis plumbing professionals want to protect your water heater from damage, preserve energy efficiency, and keep your family safe whenever you use hot water throughout your home.