Water heaters are like all other components in your home. They need repairs and maintenance in order to ensure that they perform well throughout the year. Failure to take care of your water heater can result in costly replacement or higher water bills due to inefficiency. Below are some practical water heater maintenance and repair tips that will keep your appliance in excellent condition when you need it the most:
Preventative Maintenance Checklist
If you have just purchased a brand new water heater, the best thing you can do is look at the manual to learn what type of preventative maintenance and care is essential. Although you may be able to do some of the maintenance yourself, the smartest course of action is to hire a certified and licensed plumbing technician to take care of the maintenance for you.
What does maintenance include?
Check Water Pressure
It is important to test the water pressure so that the water is properly flowing to and through the unit.
Control Water Pressure
Plumbers will recalibrate the control water pressure reduction valve to about 50-60 psi. This will protect the appliance from water impact and pressure.
Control Thermal Expansion
If you have a closed plumbing system, then you are required to carry an expansion tank on the system. If the expansion tank is damaged, then the entire water heater is in jeopardy.
T&P Relief Valve
The temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve usually drips if there is too much pressure in the heater. It will also alert you if the temperature is too high in the tank or the rest of the plumbing.
Drain and Flush Tank
If you have a gas water heater, then it is extremely important to drain and flush the tank from time to time. This will get rid of the sediment in the bottom of the tank that can damage the element.
Check/Replace Anode Rod
The anode rod reduces the chances that the water heater will corrode. It needs to be inspected every three years.
What to do if Your Water Heater is not Working
Have you taken a shower recently and noticed that there is no hot water? It could be that the water heater is malfunctioning. If you suspect that the unit is not working, then the first thing you should do is contact your local ASAP Plumbing technician. If you don’t know anything about water heaters, then you could do more harm than good to the equipment.
In the case of flooding, you can do one of two things: first turn off the water valve that is connected to the water heater. You can also turn the water off to the main line. This will inhibit any more water from coming into the tank. Once a technician arrives, he or she can diagnose the issue and make the necessary repairs.
If your water heater needs to be repaired, then contact ASAP Plumbing today at 228-865-2727 or visit www.plumbinggulfportms.com and request a free estimate! We can handle all your plumbing needs including installation, repair, and full water heater replacement.
