Household Hacks – Maintain your Water Heater for Longevity

Water heating is slowly proving itself to be a necessity in millions of homes around the world, due to the harsh effects brought about by climate change and colder climates.

Can you imagine yourself going through freezing temperatures without a trusty water heater? We definitely couldn’t, and you most likely wouldn’t be able to either.

Taking care of your water heater is an important part of ensuring that life goes on as usual everyday without having to deal with a shower situation that could leave you shivering for hours on end after you finish. However, with continued use, water heaters become prone to breaking and will cause a surge (pun intended) in your electricity bills.

Want to keep warm water flowing through your plumbing so you can have comfortable showers for years to come? Here are a few essential tips that can keep your water heaters in tip-top shape:

Give your T&P valve a thorough check

The temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve act as a safety barrier for your water heater by releasing excess pressure and temperature through it in order to help your water heater run smoothly as you use it. However, as you continue to use your water heater, your T&P valve may run the risk of exploding. This can make for a disastrous shower you won’t soon forget.

In order to save yourself from injury or death by water heater (we’re not kidding, that’s actually possible), inspect your T&P valve in three simple steps:

• Life up the T&P lever part way and allow it to snap back into place as it usually does.
• Check for a gurgling noise that may come out as a result of the valve sending some water into the drain.
• If there’s no gurgling noise, it may be a sign to replace your T&P valve. Replacing your T&P valve properly can be done by contacting a professional near you.

Keep your electricity bill low by lowering your water heater’s temperature setting

When it comes to most standard water heaters, 130 degrees is the typical factory setting that’s used for, well, heating water. However, a majority of professional plumbers and heating experts recommend setting the temperature in the range of 115 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to keep your electric bills from surging to astronomical levels. This can also prevent your water heater from overheating.

Flush your water heater regularly

In order to keep your water heater running smoothly for extended periods of time, performing a mini-flush that wipes your water heater’s tank free of sediments that accumulate over long usage periods is recommended. When left untreated, your water heater will be significantly less efficient, and the tank may corrode—sometimes beyond repair. Flush your water heater by simply doing the following:

• Shut the power off first before you start the mini-flush as a safety precaution.
• Set a bucket under the system’s drain valve or attach a hose to it that runs out to a safe disposal area.
• Pour 1 to 2 gallons into your water heater tank while simultaneously turning your heater’s drain valve counterclockwise.

Get an expert to regularly service your water heater

In most cases, there are some aspects of your water heater that you can’t fix or maintain on your own. By hiring a professional (such as someone from the Causeway Heating team) to check your water heater every once in a while, you’ll be able to make sure that it keeps running as smoothly as possible. However, in some cases, they will recommend a complete replacement of your current water heater—an option that is often more cost- and energy-efficient.

Protect your water heater tank with an insulating blanket

By putting an insulating blanket on your water heater’s tank and any other exposed pipes in the system, you can lower the amount of standby heat loss while cutting your energy consumption by a huge margin. That can even extend the whole system’s life in the process.

If you’re looking for a heater repair service, Causeway Heating is your best option. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help.