3 Ways to Maintain Your Water Heater
Everyone has a water heater, but not everyone knows how to maintain it. It’s a shame because water heaters are responsible for so much. They heat up your baths, wash your plates, and even clean your clothes. The least you can do is take care of them in return. Here are a 3 Ways to Maintain Your Water Heater.
Drain the Water
If you haven’t drained your water heater in a while, it’s about time to. The poor thing builds up debris and sentiment over time. First, you’ll want to cut power to the water heater itself. Then you’ll need to shut off the cold water supply. Hook up a garden hose to the heater’s drain valve and run it into a bucket or on the ground outside. Do this until the water turns clear.
Insulate Your Unit
If you have a new water heater, it’s already insulated. This tip is directed toward the older units. Either way, insulation is important. It’ll reduce your standby heat loss, which should save you a lot of money each month.
Manual insulation can be pretty easy. You just need a fiberglass jacket or a water heater insulation blanket. Then you’ll wrap that over the water heater. Make sure that it fits around the pipes. Avoid contact with the flue at all cost.
Inspect the Anode Rod
Water isn’t exactly a friend of metal. When hot water and metal are forced to share a living space, bad things happen. That’s why most water heaters come equipped with an anode rod. Its purpose is to protect metal by fighting corrosion, and it’s good at it. It doesn’t require a lot of maintenance, but it should be checked about every three years. If its wires are exposed or it’s covered in calcium, you should replace it.
Use these tips and more to extend your water heater’s lifespan. If you need extra help in the form of a plumber, feel free to contact the Signature Plumbing Company!