How You Can Maintain Your Water Heater

The reason you’re allowed to take those wonderfully long, hot showers and have clean dishes/clothing is because of your home’s water heater.

This plumbing fixture is responsible for heating the water that enters your home so you can use it how you please.

In order for this life-saving appliance to work properly, it’s going to need maintenance — and we’re here to show you what you need to do!

How to Maintain a Water Heater

1) Insulate the Fixture

If you’re looking for ways to lower your energy bills and limit wear and tear on your water heater simultaneously, insulation is the answer! When a water heater has its pipes and the tank itself exposed, heat can be lost as it is warmed in the tank and transferred via the pipes.

This can cause your water heater to work harder and longer in order to achieve the desired temperature of water. To help keep your energy bills and wear and tear of the fixture to a minimum, have the pipes insulated with sleeves and have the tank covered with an insulation blanket.

2) Lower the Temperature

When your water heater is installed, the stock temperature might be set to a temperature that is higher than it should be. When this happens, your water heater will work harder and use more energy in order to heat the water up to this temperature setting.

However, you can once again limit the wear and tear of your water heater by lowering the temperature setting. The sweet spot for most water heaters is at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This will heat the water to an efficient and comfortably warm temperature while also keeping energy usage down.

3) Have the Fixture Serviced

There are many parts and pieces within a water heater that should be inspected annually to ensure everything is working properly, and if not — anything malfunctioning should be replaced. This includes the anode rod, the TPR valve, the drain, and many other parts.

By contacting your local plumber, you can have them inspect and service your water heater for you. This is an ideal time to have the water heater drained and cleaned out of any sediment buildup. Over time, sediment can build up within the fixture and can limit the efficiency of the water heater — a service and flush can help restore its efficiency.

Maintaining your water heater is a very simple thing that many homeowners often overlook, which can cause you problems if you ignore it.

If your hot water has not been plentiful, as hot as it should be, or your energy bills are way too high — then contact our plumbers here at Lancaster PHCE so we can help diagnose and repair the issue!

(We also have ALL of the information regarding tankless water heaters if you’re in need of a replacement.)