3 Important Tips to Maintain your Water Heater
January 20, 2020
Your home's water heater works day and night to provide you with gallons of hot water for your showers or baths and to wash your dishes and launder your clothes, but have you ever given any thought to the maintenance you could be giving your water heater to keep it running smoothly and dependable? You want to keep your water heater in tip top shape because of how much we rely on it daily and the important role it plays in your home.
With some simple routine maintenance you can keep your water heater running smoothly for longer:
1) Drain Your Water Heater
Approximately every six months you'll want to open the drain valve, which is conveniently located on the bottom of the heater. Allow the escaping water to drain into a bucket or other container until the liquid is clear. Typically, this is about 5 gallons worth. This simple but important procedure prevents harmful sediment from gathering inside of your heater.
2) Test the Pressure
Once a year, test your heater's temperature-pressure relief buildup level. To do this, lift or depress the proper handle to drain water from the overflow pipe. If no water comes out, your valve has seen better days and needs replacing. In that case, shut off the water flow to the heater and open a hot water faucet anywhere in your home. Then install the replacement.
3) Check For Overheating
If you ever notice steam or boiling water flowing out of the valve or hot water faucets, you're looking at a telltale sign that your heater is overheating. Another symptom is a heater that happens to be producing an unusual rumbling sound. In either instance, you'll want to switch off the heater and call in a water heater repair professional for an evaluation.
If you don't feel comfortable perfoming any of these basic tasks, call on a professional Fayetteville plumber like Flowrite Plumbing and Drain. We are a North Carolina licensed plumber, serving Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Anderson Creek, Raeford and the surrounding areas of Fort Bragg. When you need water heater or plumbing help give Flow-Rite Plumbing a call!
Your home's water heater works day and night to provide you with gallons of hot water for your showers or baths and to wash your dishes and launder your clothes, but have you ever given any thought to the maintenance you could be giving your water heater to keep it running smoothly and dependable? You want to keep your water heater in tip top shape because of how much we rely on it daily and the important role it plays in your home.
With some simple routine maintenance you can keep your water heater running smoothly for longer:
1) Drain Your Water Heater
Approximately every six months you'll want to open the drain valve, which is conveniently located on the bottom of the heater. Allow the escaping water to drain into a bucket or other container until the liquid is clear. Typically, this is about 5 gallons worth. This simple but important procedure prevents harmful sediment from gathering inside of your heater.
2) Test the Pressure
Once a year, test your heater's temperature-pressure relief buildup level. To do this, lift or depress the proper handle to drain water from the overflow pipe. If no water comes out, your valve has seen better days and needs replacing. In that case, shut off the water flow to the heater and open a hot water faucet anywhere in your home. Then install the replacement.
3) Check For Overheating
If you ever notice steam or boiling water flowing out of the valve or hot water faucets, you're looking at a telltale sign that your heater is overheating. Another symptom is a heater that happens to be producing an unusual rumbling sound. In either instance, you'll want to switch off the heater and call in a water heater repair professional for an evaluation.
If you don't feel comfortable perfoming any of these basic tasks, call on a professional Fayetteville plumber like Flowrite Plumbing and Drain. We are a North Carolina licensed plumber, serving Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Anderson Creek, Raeford and the surrounding areas of Fort Bragg. When you need water heater or plumbing help give Flow-Rite Plumbing a call!
