When it comes to major appliances in your home like the AC unit and electrical panel, you want it to run well and for as long as possible.
Why? Because they give you comfort and reliability (and they cost a ton to replace), so when you need your phone charged and ready for that crucial phone interview or that blast of cool air when it’s 90 degrees outside, you know your systems will be ready and waiting for you at a push of a button.
Another system in your home that is so important to the way you live your life is your water heater, especially when you need warm water in the tap or that calming hot shower. Although anything could happen and your appliances and they could fail without your control, knowing how to protect your system can save you a ton of money and discomfort in the future.
Here is a cheap and easy way to get your water heater running efficiently for many more years before you ever need a new one.
Water Heater Flush
A water heater flush is one of the easiest and cheapest things you can do to make your water heater last longer and be more efficient. A water heater flush consists of draining out all of the gunk that gets stuck to the bottom of your water heater after years of pumping water inside and out of it. To do a water heater flush, all you’ll need a garden hose and somewhere to store the hot water and gunk that will drain out of your water heater.
- Turn off the water that leads to your water heater unit and the gas supply on the unit as well. If you have an electric water heater, turn off the power that goes to your water heater.
- locate the drain valve (near the bottom of your unit) and connect your hose to it.
- find an area that you can safely drain the hot water and once you have done that, open the drain valve until it is fully drained.
- remove the hose and tightly close the drain valve.
- turn back the power and the water line and let your water heater refill.
When completed, your water heater will run more efficiently and extend the life of the unit.
Other things you can do to extend the life of your water heater is as follows:
Water Heater Maintenance
It is recommended that you get a tank inspection at least once a year to ensure everything is running well with your heater and the risk of leaks is mitigated. This can be done by yourself, or by a trained plumber that you trust. Regular maintenance would include: cleaning the tank, a tank inspection, repairing leaks and adjusting the thermostat to the perfect temperature.
Replacing Anode Rod
The Anode Rod is a piece of metal in the shape of a rod that protects the metal that comprises your water heater by letting water degrade the rod instead of the metal of your heater, effectively extending the life of your unit. A good way of figuring out how long your anode rod will last is by the manufactures warranty on the unit. If you have a 5 year warranty, typically there is one anode rod in your unit that will last about 5 years. If you have a 10 year warranty, you can expect two anode rods in your system which will generally last for 10 years if conditions are ideal. And for all of you who are DIY savvy (or brave enough to try), you may want to try and replace the anode rod in your water heater yourself. Here’s a detailed guide by Plumbing Supply on how to do that.
By enacting these 3 tactics, you can expect your water heater to run strong for many more years to come.
You can check out all of our water heater services on our website. If the water heater flush is something you’re interested in but you’re uncomfortable doing it yourself, you can always call the Pro’s at 4ServicePros to handle the job for you. Call (571) 281-0281 today and get a plumber out to you as soon as today!