A hot shower is a luxury that you shouldn’t have to go without, which is why it is important to ensure that your water heater is in proper working order at all times. You also rely on your water heater for numerous daily tasks, such as washing the dishes, laundry, and more. While it’s easy to ignore your unit when it is working as it should, performing routine maintenance will expand your water heater’s lifespan and reduce the number of times it needs to be serviced. At Titanium Plumbing & Heating, our experienced technicians have put together a few tips for water heater maintenance for both tankless and standard models.
HOW TO GIVE YOUR STANDARD WATER HEATER SOME TLC
Conventional, or standard, water heaters store water in tanks and require gas or electricity to heat up the stored water. In order to ensure optimum performance, our water heater maintenance specialists suggest doing the following:
Flush the Tank
Because of its constant use, sediment deposits can build up within your unit’s tank. As the buildup accumulates, it can rust through and cause leaks. Don’t let this happen to you. Instead, get in the habit of flushing the tank at least once a year.
First, turn off both the power and water supply. Next, release the valve and open the hot water tap, using a hose and bucket to drain and catch the water from the tank. You’ll need to watch carefully so you can notice when the water is finally free of any sediment. In order to ensure everything was properly cleansed, turn the water supply back on and let it flush through until all the water is crystal clear.
Check the Anode Rod
Both electric and gas water heaters have anode rods that attract all of the harsh minerals so that your tank itself remains protected. However, because these minerals buildup, it’s important to replace your anode rod about every five years. Our water heater maintenance technicians at Titanium Plumbing & Heating can help with this step.
Ensure the Pressure Relief Valve Works
Because of the changes in temperature, pressure accumulates within your tank and needs to be released to prevent an explosion. As a part of your yearly maintenance, it’s important to ensure that this part is in proper working order. To do so, place a bucket beneath the discharge pipe and lift the lever. Should water fail to come out, you notice the valve leaks, or the lever doesn’t open the valve, it is time for a replacement.
TANKLESS UNITS NEED MAINTENANCE TOO
Although you don’t have to worry about many of the problems conventional models have, such as a rusted-out tank, these models still require routine maintenance to ensure they continue to function properly. Our tankless water heater maintenance technicians recommend doing the following at least once a year:
Clean the Intake Filter
Your tankless water heater is equipped with an air intake filter that is responsible for preventing any debris from entering your unit. We are more than happy to assist you with this process, or you can do it yourself by removing your water heater’s faceplate, rinsing the filter under water, and toweling it dry.
Flush Your Unit
Because tankless units accumulate mineral buildup within their heating chambers, it’s important that you regularly flush out any deposits. As buildup accumulates, it starts to affect your unit’s overall efficiency and can even make your unit produce odd, loud noises. In order to conduct a thorough cleansing, we recommend flushing your unit with vinegar. If you’re not sure how to go about doing this, give us a call and we can put our years of experience to work.
WE PROVIDE MULTI-POINT INSPECTIONS
At Titanium Plumbing & Heating, we have over 15 years of experience and can assist with any type of water heater from gas to electric to tankless. When you schedule routine maintenance with us, we will perform a thorough inspection and assure that no sediment build-up or rust accumulation remains within your unit.
Expand the lifespan of your water heater with proper maintenance. Give us a call at (201) 355-5582 or contact us online. We’ll make sure your unit is in prime working condition.
