Hot water may have once been a luxury, but today, it’s necessary. Taking care of your water heater is essential to increase efficiency and longevity. Iceberg Heating & Cooling provides a few tips for keeping a healthy water heater.
Call Iceberg Heating & Cooling at 734-342-3420 to learn more about our water heater services!
How To Keep Your Water Heater Healthy
There are several ways to keep your water heater healthy, including:
Schedule Regular Water Heater Maintenance
Regular maintenance inspections are the most effective way to extend the life span of your water heater and maintain peak performance. Regular maintenance checks will show you what needs to be repaired or replaced before the whole unit stops working. Any repairs should be made immediately to prevent your unit from breaking down. If it’s determined that your unit needs to be replaced, replace it right away.
Drain the Tank Regularly
It’s recommended that you drain the tank every six to 12 months. Draining your water heater helps remove sediment buildup, ensuring your unit performs better and uses less energy.
- Do a quick flush: Connect a garden hose to the drain valve and flush the tank a bit by opening the valve for a few seconds and then closing it again. Make sure you run the hose into a bucket or an exterior location to catch the water and sediment that will come out.
- Turn your water heater off: Test your hot water faucets in the house to ensure the water heater is off. If it has been shut off correctly, the water may gush out initially but should quickly slow down to a trickle.
- Attach the hose and open the drain valve: Drain all water from the tank. Then, briefly turn on the cold-water supply in the tank to stir up any remaining sediment. Repeat the process until the water runs clear.
- Turn your water heater back on: When the water runs clear, turn off the drain valve and disconnect the garden hose. Then, turn your water heater back on.
- Check for leaks and inspect the tank: If there are no leaks, the drain valve is closed correctly. Inspect the tank for any other issues that may have popped up.
Test the Temperature & Pressure Relief (TPR) Valve
It’s recommended that you test the TPR valve yearly. This guarantees that your water heater will last as long as possible. Locate the valve on the water heater’s top or side, place a bucket underneath the valve, pull the lever, and release a few gallons of water. Once you close the valve, the water should stop flowing entirely. If it doesn’t, it’s time to replace the valve.
Check the Anode Rod
The anode rod is a piece of metal inserted into a water heater to prevent the tank from rusting. The rod attracts all corrosion before it can reach the steel in the tank. Once the rod is completely corroded, your tank is at risk for rust and irreversible damage. Check the anode rod at least once a year. If the rod is more than half consumed by corrosion, it’s time for a replacement.
Insulate the Pipes & the Heater
Insulating your pipes and your water heater can improve efficiency and reduce heat loss by up to 45%. Pipes can be insulated with foam pipe insulation, and the water heater can be insulated with an insulating blanket.
Schedule Water Heater Services With Iceberg Heating & Cooling
If you feel overwhelmed by taking care of your water heater by yourself or suspect something might be wrong, call the professionals at Iceberg Heating & Cooling.
What sets us apart:
- Family-owned
- 24/7 emergency services & same-day services
- Service all brands
- Free estimates on replacement quotes
- Upfront pricing
- Licensed, insured & background-checked technicians
- Financing options
- Military, veteran & senior discounts
