Your water heater is one pretty used and much more costly appliances in your home, and consumes a large regarding your energy dollars each month. And experts say regular care and maintenance is essential to protecting your investment and saving at your home heating and costs.
Regular flushing of your water heater is considered the single most important step you consider to prolong its service life and to save energy. In a period of time, sediments build up in the bottom of your hot water heater. These sediments act as a barrier between the flame and the tank, thereby making your heater burn longer and hotter. Partly destructive to the tank, but highly inefficient and will significantly raise your heating costs.
In most areas of the country, the standard water heater lasts 3-5 years. Regularly flushing your hot water heater can double daily life of your water heater from 3-5 to 7-10 years. And with the costs of replacement running from $700 to over $1200 in some cases, getting the most out of your heater is critical in today’s weather. In addition, regular flushing makes your water heater run more efficiently and can cut heating costs in half. Depending on the volume of warm water your home uses, that can mean a savings of $20 to over $50 a fair amount of time.
To drain your water heater, which will help should set the thermostat to pilot (if it can be a gas water heater) or turn the circuit breaker off (if it is electric heater). Failure to do so could result in overheating and severe damage to the heater. Next, close the water supply valve located on the water inlet line going into your water heater. Equipped to connect a garden hose to the drain valve located towards the end of the heater. Open the drain and allow it to move until all for the water has emptied from the air conditioner. Then close the drain. Open the water supply valve and refill the heater tank. You should also open a hot water faucet somewhere inside the house and stand there and watch it run for several minutes until the water flows out smoothly. This will allow air to vent from the heater and the hot water lines. Finally, you can turn the thermostat in order to its regular setting (for a gas heater), or turn the circuit breakers back on (for an electric heater).
Besides regularly flushing your water heater, plumbing experts also advise adding a water treatment system home to filter or condition the water so is certainly less corrosive to your plumbing system, particularly in areas possess hard water. For more ways to care for and protect your home plumbing system, contact a licensed, professional plumbing contractor in location to discuss options and products to suit your needs.
Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical
The Woodlands, TX
(281) 528-1610