4 Tips to Extend the Life of Your Water Heater

4 Tips to Extend the Life of Your Water Heater If you regularly use warm water to take showers, it is vital to check & maintain your water heater regularly. A systematic & periodical check­up is necessary to reduce the chances of unforeseen breakdown that can leave you with nothing except cold water until a plumber can repair it.

The modern systems like tankless water heaters, heat pumps & solar units should be generally inspected & maintained only by expert plumbers since performing any kind of DIY job with such high­tech components can be a risky affair. On the contrary, if you possess a classic storage tank water heater, you must be aware of some basic maintenance tips that you can do it yourself.

In this blog, we shall discuss some vital tips to extend the life of your water heater.

 Observe & investigate­ Firstly, you must go around checking the areas around your water heater, that might be damaged. Prior to your investigation of your water heater, check out the shower & faucets. If your hot water’s temperature rises or falls abnormally, that is, if it is hotter or colder than before, take it as a danger sign for your water heater. When you go for self­inspection, check for any accumulation of water, drips or leaks. don’t forget to look for rust or cracks in the exterior of the tank. If you see any of these,

you better call for experienced plumbers in Mandurah before it’s too late.

 Inspect the pressure relief valve­ The main function of the water heater’s valve is to control the tank pressure & if the valve stops working properly, there will be an accumulation of pressure that could cause the tank to burst. In order to check the valve, open it manually & make sure it closes as smoothly as it had opened. Don’t forget to notice that the drain outlet is clear or not.

If everything is alright, hot water should be given out instantly.

 Flush the tank­ To check this, begin by flipping the circuit breaker for the water heater & shut off the cold water inlet valve.

Fix a hose to the drain outlet & let the water flow down a floor drain or outside, away from your house. Next open two valves­ the pressure relief valve & the drain valve so that the tank can be emptied quickly. By doing this, you will be able to remove the sediments which otherwise on accumulation can damage your water heater. After completely emptying the tank, close both the valves. Turn on all the hot water faucets & fixtures in your house & then turn on the cold water inlet valve to fill up the tank. When the water starts flowing, turn off the fixtures & switch on the water heater circuit breaker to start heating your tank that is absolutely free of sediment.

 Check the anode rod­ Hot water plumbers in Mandurah advises to check the anode rod which is a metal piece that goes into the tank & attracts all the eroding & rust­causing elements.

But this rod itself suffers the danger of getting rusted that can damage your water tank. Thus you must periodically replace the rod to have a long­lasting water heater.

Conclusion­ These tips are more or less enough to help you to sustainably use your water heater. It is recommended that should you find your water thank behaving abnormally, contact your trusted plumbing agency without delay.

QA Plumbing 8 Rafferty Rd, Mandurah WA 6210, Australia, P.O. Box 2030 Phone: 0895828822 FAX: 0895355216 E­mail: admin@qaplumbing.com.au Website: www.qaplumbing.com.au