3 Tips For Taking Care Of Your Water Heater
Your water heater is key to everything from hot showers to being able to wash the dishes after dinner. Replacing a water heater is expensive and inconvenient, so it's always a good idea to practice good preventative maintenance instead, doing what you can to keep your water heater in great working order for as long as possible. Here are three tips for taking excellent care of your home's water heater:
Keep Space Cleared Around the Water Heater
It's important to keep the area around your water heater clear of boxes, clutter, stored items, etc. If your water heater is gas-operated, like many water heaters are, it needs plenty of oxygen in order to work as efficiently as it should, which means there needs to be plenty of free-flowing air surrounding the water heater. Even if your water heater is electric, being surrounded by objects can be a major fire hazard since water heaters get very hot.
Plus, if there is a problem with your water heater such as a leak, you are more likely to notice if the water heater is in a cleared out area. This not only ensures you can have your water heater fixed right away, but also helps reduce the likelihood of expensive water damage.
Drain Your Water Heater Periodically
Once a year or so, it's a good idea to drain your water heater to get rid of corrosive particles, minerals and sediment that can collect over time and diminish your water heater's ability to fully heat water. You can pay a plumber or HVAC company to complete this task for you, which is a good idea if you'd like them to also inspect your water heater to make sure it's working as it should. Just contact a professional service, such as R & B Inc Heating & Air Conditioning, and schedule an appointment. Or you can do it yourself by hooking up a hose and draining the water into a bucket, drain, or backyard if the hose is long enough.
Add Pipe Insulation
Adding insulation to your water heater's pipes means that your water heater doesn't have to work quite as hard to heat water. This can help your water heater last longer and may also lower your electricity or gas bill a bit. Pipe insulation can be purchased quite affordably at any home improvement store and cut to measure
By following these tips, you will help keep your water heater up and running and providing your family with hot water for as many years as possible.
