Are you tired of having your water heater repaired every season? If you’re anxious about how to maintain its performance and efficiency this winter, we’ve got you covered with the best water heater maintenance tips. By incorporating these practices into your routine, you can reduce energy costs, avoid unnecessary repair costs, and protect your family from potential hazards.
How to Maintain Your Water Heaters
To ensure that your water heater works efficiently and effectively in Southeast Florida’s unique climate, you should take into consideration the region’s mild climate and occasional cold fronts. The months of winter are already very occupied with Christmas and New Year’s, so managing maintenance and house repairs can become an overwhelming task.
Insulating exposed pipes to prevent heat loss is an important hack to protect yourself from icy surprises, especially during the cold fronts. Verify proper ventilation and airflow, and drain and flush the system to prepare your water heater for the new season. As part of your pre-winter maintenance checklist, you can also schedule a professional inspection with water heater repair services.
Water Heater Maintenance Tips
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Performing Regular Inspections
It is crucial to set a maintenance schedule for your water heaters. You can get them checked on an annual, monthly, or quarterly basis depending on the condition of your water heater. Regular inspections allow you to check the anode rode for corrosion, and check for any leaks so that they be fixed before the situation worsens.
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Testing the Temperature & Pressure Relief Valves
The temperature and pressure relief valves are one of the most important features of the water heater. These valves help alleviate excessive pressure from inside the water heater by discharging the excess water. However, if these valves are not working properly and the temperature and pressure rise above the safety threshold, it can even lead to an explosion. In maintaining your water heater effectively, inspecting the pressure relief valve is necessary to ensure both safety and efficiency.
To test the Temperature and Pressure Relief (TPR) valve, simply lift it up and down several times. This action simulates pressure buildup; it will allow you to verify the proper functioning of the valve. As you lift, the attached brass stem will begin to move, releasing hot water into the drainpipe and producing a distinct gurgling sound.
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Insulating the Water Heater
You can now wrap up your energy bills with water heater insulation! Insulation helps retain heat, reducing energy consumption which in turn lowers energy bills. It also maintains a safe water temperature during winter and ensures a consistent hot water supply.
You can use a water heater insulation blanket to cover your pipes, or you can use fiberglass or foam insulation to insulate your water heater. But make sure the insulation doesn’t obstruct the temperature and pressure relief valve, and regularly inspect it for damage.
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Watch for Leaks
Fixing water heater leaks is a challenging task in itself, and you don’t want to worry about potential water leaks during chilly weather. Protect your home, and protect your peace of mind as you regularly inspect the water heater and surrounding areas for a leak. Addressing a leak swiftly can prevent further damage to your home and surrounding areas. If you don’t fix a leak on time, the consequences can be severe. It leads to internal corrosion and even the growth of mold.
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Remove Sediment Buildup
If you’re looking to explore tankless water heaters, you must know how to flush the tank and remove sediment buildup. Turn off the power and shut off the water coming from the water heater but leave the cold water valves on, hook up your drain hose, and open the drain valve. The cold water feed will stir up the sediment at the bottom and drain all the sediment buildup.
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Adjust the Thermostat
You can further make your water heater more energy efficient by lowering the temperature of the water heater. Lower temperatures also reduce the risk of corrosion and prevent scalding. Therefore, it is crucial that you install a thermostat with temperature control so that you can regularly check and adjust the thermostat.
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Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors
You must have heard of tragic stories of gas leaks from water heaters, resulting in devastating consequences for families. Having a gas water heater always poses security risks, as carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas, and in case of gas leaks, it can greatly endanger lives. Detectors should be installed near water heaters or sleeping areas to alert you in case of any emergency. Consider this an important part of the water heater maintenance procedure and save yourself from all safety concerns.
Reach Out To The Experts At Priscilla Plumbing
As a family-owned plumber, at Priscilla Plumbing, we proudly offer expert services with personalized attention to every customer. With our pre-winter maintenance services, we can help you get rid of all worries this winter. Our licensed plumbers will inspect for any leaks or corrosion, and provide repair and maintenance according to it.
If you’re inexperienced with water heaters and unsure about how to implement the above maintenance tips, schedule an appointment now with our experts and fix all issues before the season, so that you can sit back and enjoy Southeast Florida’s cozy winters.
