Proper Water Heater Maintenance
To keep your water heater in good condition, performing regular maintenance is needed. It is definitely worth your time since you won't be dealing with heater issues in the long run. If you are not comfortable in maintaining your unit without professional help, contact a specialist immediately.
Avoid unfortunate accidents by closing the power or gas supply of the unit. Always take safety precautions since a water heater can pose serious dangers if not handled properly. Inform everyone around the house not to use the unit during the maintenance period and wipe water puddles as soon as you notice them.
You can start by checking your pipes and look for signs of leaks. It is easy for water to leak if these plumbing connections aren't tightened properly. Wrap a Teflon tape around the threading and use a wrench to tighten the fittings. For badly damaged pipes, replace them immediately.
Protect your family from overheating and blowing up by checking your relief valve from time to time. This valve is in charge of releasing excessive pressure inside the tank once the temperature gets too high. You can adjust the thermostat settings to lower the temperature or replace the valve once it starts leaking.
Do not let your water rust and smell bad by draining and flushing the tank on a semi-annual basis. Doing this allows the sediments to exit the tank, preventing them from developing and affecting your water quality. Make sure the other end of the hose is located in a secure drainage to avoid scalding burns.
If you want to stop the sediments from building up, check the status of your anode rod regularly. This rod should not be taken lightly since it is responsible for protecting the tank from corroding as it attracts all charged water molecules inside. Once you see metal wiring around it, replace it as soon as possible.
If you keep on having cold water running out of your hot water taps, it is safe to assume that your dip tube has completely deteriorated. This tube directs cold water right down to the burner for proper heating. If the dip tube gets rusty, cold water can hit the hot water pipes without being heated. Replacing the dip tube will solve this problem.
Do not attempt to repair and maintain your heater without having the right tools and knowledge in doing so. Most homeowners commit this mistake, thinking this would lead to great savings. However, doing this would only result in costly water heater repairs as improper handling causes problems to escalate.
Avoid unfortunate accidents by closing the power or gas supply of the unit. Always take safety precautions since a water heater can pose serious dangers if not handled properly. Inform everyone around the house not to use the unit during the maintenance period and wipe water puddles as soon as you notice them.
You can start by checking your pipes and look for signs of leaks. It is easy for water to leak if these plumbing connections aren't tightened properly. Wrap a Teflon tape around the threading and use a wrench to tighten the fittings. For badly damaged pipes, replace them immediately.
Protect your family from overheating and blowing up by checking your relief valve from time to time. This valve is in charge of releasing excessive pressure inside the tank once the temperature gets too high. You can adjust the thermostat settings to lower the temperature or replace the valve once it starts leaking.
Do not let your water rust and smell bad by draining and flushing the tank on a semi-annual basis. Doing this allows the sediments to exit the tank, preventing them from developing and affecting your water quality. Make sure the other end of the hose is located in a secure drainage to avoid scalding burns.
If you want to stop the sediments from building up, check the status of your anode rod regularly. This rod should not be taken lightly since it is responsible for protecting the tank from corroding as it attracts all charged water molecules inside. Once you see metal wiring around it, replace it as soon as possible.
If you keep on having cold water running out of your hot water taps, it is safe to assume that your dip tube has completely deteriorated. This tube directs cold water right down to the burner for proper heating. If the dip tube gets rusty, cold water can hit the hot water pipes without being heated. Replacing the dip tube will solve this problem.
Do not attempt to repair and maintain your heater without having the right tools and knowledge in doing so. Most homeowners commit this mistake, thinking this would lead to great savings. However, doing this would only result in costly water heater repairs as improper handling causes problems to escalate.
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