No homeowner needs to be told how important their hot water heater is. It is the very device that powers hot water to your laundry, shower, and sinks. Can you imagine a home without hot water? That’s what one with a broken water heater would be like. While the average lifespan of a water heater might be anywhere from 6 to 11 years, they do require frequent and proper maintenance. Want to ensure that you get the most out of one of the most important appliances in your home? H&A Queens Plumbing
Monitoring Temperature
It is possible that when your water heater was installed that the installing techs never changed the original manufacturer’s temperature settings. Why is this important? Well, most manufacturers set their water heater temperature to right around 140 degrees F. This is much more than any household needs and can result in not only scalding but accelerate mineral buildup as well as corrosion in the pipes. This will obviously cause blocks and excessive wear and tear, forcing the heater to work harder than it needs to. Regardless, a more ideal temperature setting is 120 degrees F. Monitor your heater’s thermostat and make sure that it is set to 120 F or lower. H&A Staten Island Plumbing
Drainage On the Regular
Most homeowner never even flush their water heaters once. This is unless of course, they are on a good maintenance program. This is something that any preventive maintenance company would do on the regular. The only problem is that most people aren’t signed up on these plans. Regardless, this is something that you can do on your own with a little insight. Doing this once or twice a year will be enough to keep the tank good and clean. That being said, your goal is to only flush out about one-quarter of the tank, and to do this, you’ll want to start by hooking up a garden hose to the drain valve, located on the bottom of the tank. Now, shut off the cold water supply and let the water drain, until it comes out looking crystal clear. This will clear unwanted sediment and help preserve the overall efficiency of the appliance. H&A Brooklyn Plumbing
Checking The Pressure Relief Valve
A pressure relief valve is designed to release and dispel hot water into the drainpipe in the event of a malfunction. It prevents the buildup of pressure, thus preventing the chances of an explosion. You’ll want to check this device on the regular not only to make sure that it is operational but to remove excessive pressure and debris. Doing this is easy enough once you locate the value. All you have to do is locate the valve, open it up, and listen for a big pressure burst. If there is no burst after opening the valve, you’ll want to contact professional support.
Water heaters might seem like simple appliances, but they are anything but. They not only are complex, but they require a lot of attention and care. Attention and care that will only crease the lifespan, so it’s really a win-win in the end. Most problems you can probably handle on your own, but there will be times when you run into something far too complicated. This is when you’ll want to contact professional help.
