DIY Water Heater Maintenance Tips, WI
November 8, 2014
Your water heater is likely one of those home features that you rarely think about, until it isn’t working properly. Although the average water heater lasts about 10 years, it still needs regular maintenance, as any element of your home does. Fortunately, with just a few basic care tasks, you can keep your water heater running well and lasting longer. Need help with home maintenance or home improvements? Contact North Twin Builders today!
Understanding your Water Heater
You may know what the water heater looks like, but do you know how it works? Don’t feel bad, most people don’t. Before you can begin caring for your water heater properly, it’s helpful to understand the key components and how they work together to supply the hot water you need for bathing, dishes and laundry.
- Tank: the big metal cylinder container.
- Dip tube: located in the top of the tank, feeds the cold water into the tank to be heated.
- Heat-out pipe: sends the hot water to your appliances and sinks, coming out of the top of the tank. Because heat rises, the incoming cold water sinks to the bottom of the tank, making the warmest water accessible through this pipe.
- Heating mechanism: this can vary depending on the type of water heater you have. It’s either an electric unit inside the tank, or a burner for a gas water heater.
- Sacrificial anode rod: located inside the tank, made of magnesium or aluminum that helps reduce corrosion to the tank.
- Thermostat: located on the outside of the tank, usually near the bottom; allows you to control the temperature of the water.
- Shut-off valve: located on the outside of the tank, typically above the unit; resembles a water hose valve.
- Drain valve: near the bottom on the outside of the water heater.
- Pressure-relief valve: ensures that pressure is maintained at a safe level, located on the outside of the water heater.
All of these parts, seen and unseen, work together to produce hot water for your home. If one fails, the whole system can fail and regular maintenance can prevent this.
Water Heater Best Practices
You can protect your water heater and ensure it operates at full potential with a few simple steps. Wrapping the tank itself in insulation can produce considerable savings on utility bills by reducing heat loss. This is especially helpful if you have an older tank. Insulating the first few feet of the heat-out pipe further reduces heat loss, and doing the same for the cold water intake pipe prevents sweating. Make sure to keep the area around your water heater clean and clear. Don’t stack things on top of or around the tank. And perform basic care tasks at least once a year to extend the lifespan of the water heater.
Water Heater Maintenance
As water moves in and out of the tank, it leaves behind natural sediments. It’s important to clean out the tank to prevent these from building up and creating rust. Additionally, sediment build up reduces efficiency, meaning higher utility costs and a shorter life span.
Start by testing the pressure-relief valve. Pull up on the handle – if water flows freely, it is working properly. If you see just a trickle or nothing comes out, it may be time for a replacement. The next step is to flush the tank.
Start by turning off electricity and water coming into the tank. Connect a garden hose to the drain valve, making sure the other end is in a bucket or outside where the water won’t cause damage or make a mess. Open the pressure and drain valves and drain the tank completely. Then turn the water coming in back on to flush out any remaining sediment. After closing all the valves, allow the tank to fill completely before turning the electricity or heating unit back on.
Throughout the year, it can be helpful to drain out about a quarter of the tank every few months to remove sediment. With these simple steps, you can improve your water heater’s efficiency, increase your home energy-efficiency, and help it to last longer. If you are noticing that your water heater isn’t running properly, or you are ready to install a new tank, call Muskyland Plumbing in Eagle River at 715-479-7012 for quality professional repairs or installation.