Extend the Life of Your Water Heater

 

If you’re a homeowner, you are destined to have at least one severe appliance break down and may need it repaired or replaced. Most appliances will give you years of service if you make sure to give them the proper tender love and care.

Even your water heater can be taken care of the right way and as a result, have an extended life. Here are a few tips to help you get more out of your water heater.

Maintenance Does Matter

Unless you live in a house where the water heater is located in a utility area on the main floor, you don’t happen to pay much attention to it. A majority of people get used to the gurgles and burps made by the tank. Additionally, if you’re not a handy individual, you might avoid the water heater, hoping you never need to take a close look at it. Rather than ignoring your water heater, make it a priority to inspect it on a daily basis. Nothing major, just make sure it’s working properly.

Also, make sure to check for leaks. Inspect the joints and look for gaps. Notice cracks on the tank. If you don’t have time for maintenance, it is highly recommended that you call your local Laguna Hills Emergency Plumber and schedule them to take care of it for you.

Flush the Tank

Water heatersare known to have sediment buildup. This is especially true if you have hard water in your area. Flushing your water heater tank every 6-12 months assist in lowering sediment buildup. In addition, sediment can block the heating element, which is located at the bottom of the tank.

If the heating element is blocked, the water heater has to work a bit more than usual. You can flush the tank yourself if you pay attention to safety precautions. Your local Laguna Hills Emergency Plumbercan also do it as part of your regular maintenance appointment.

Replace the Anode Rod

Want to double the life of your water heater? Our Laguna Hills Emergency Plumbers suggest you replace the anode rod prior to it failing. An anode rod aids in preventing corrosion inside the water tank. Rust is one thing that can drastically lower the life of a water heater. Corrosion caused by rust can cause the bottom of the tank to fall out — then you have a recipe for a plumbing disaster.

Very similar to many plumbing maintenance tasks, you can change the anode rod yourself, but a majority of homeowners prefer that the local Laguna Hills plumber takes care of the job. Anode rods can last about 3-5 years.

Install a Water Softener

You might wonder how a water softener can extend the life of a water heater. A majority of individuals associate water softeners with drinking, bathing, and washing clothes and dishes.

While that’s true, water softeners can also bring down wear and tear on a water heater. Water softeners reduce scaling. Just like your other water-thirsty appliances don’t handle scale buildup well, water heaters do not enjoy it either.

Make Sure To Check the Pressure Relief Valve

The pressure relief valve is an essential safety component of a water heater. As the name recommends, the pressure relief valve relieves pressure inside the water tank. A faulty pressure relief valve can result in flooding.