Sunday, August 4, 2013

Simple Hot Water Heater Maintenance Plan

By Brian Winters


Performing water heater maintenance regularly should be included on every homeowner's honey do list. Experts recommend inspecting the water heater every six months to keep it in tip-top shape. If you are not comfortable in maintaining your unit alone, you can always contact a specialist for professional help.

Make sure the gas or power source of your heater is shut down to avoid unnecessary disasters. Remind everyone in your household about the scheduled maintenance to prevent them from using the unit during the process. Stop water from entering the tank by turning off the cold water supply while maintenance is ongoing.

Check for loose electrical connections if you have an electric-powered unit. Attend to this problem immediately for this can short-out the system. Pour a soap solution over the gas connections to check if your unit is leaking. If you see bubbles, call a specialist as soon as possible.

Do not forget to check the flu pipe of your water heater. This pipe should always be aligned with the heater exhaust port. Keep the flu hat in place by inspecting the roof vent. Make sure all the points in between are situated properly.

Inspect the anode rod regularly to prevent excessive sediment buildup. This rod fights against rust and corrosion by absorbing all the charged water molecules inside. Once you see metal wirings around the rod, replace it as soon as possible.

You can remove the sediments by draining and flushing the tank regularly to sustain the heating efficiency of your water heater. Too many hard water minerals can compromise the temperature and water volume that can be stored inside. It is normal to see sediments lying at the bottom of the tank after draining; therefore, flush them out by turning the cold water supply on until the water runs out clear. Refill the tank right before switching the unit on.

If you keep on getting cold water out of your hot water taps, you might want to check your dip tube. This tube is responsible for leading cold water down to the heater where water is heated properly. Once it corrodes, cold water can hit the hot water pipes directly without being heated.

Get the latest hot water heater maintenance tips by asking help from a specialist. Do not try to attempt to work on your water heater without having sufficient knowledge in doing so. Doing this not only escalates the problem but also leads to a more costly repair.




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