Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Quick And Easy Water Heater Maintenance

By Brian Winters


Without a doubt, water heaters are one of the most important heating devices in every household. Of course, this is obvious since hot water is used for taking warm showers, washing dishes and doing the laundry. Waking up to a broken water heater can cause too much of an inconvenience. At this point, inspect your water heater to recognize signs of damage in the early stage. You can always call a specialist if you don't have time to carry out repairs on your own.

Avoid electric shocks and fatal accidents by turning off the heating source of your water heater prior to inspecting it. Shut down the circuit breaker if you have an electric-powered unit or the gas supply valve for gas water heaters. It helps reminding everyone about the scheduled maintenance to stop them from using the unit during the process.

Do not allow water to enter the tank during the repair process. You can do this by shutting down the cold water supply near the top of the tank. Sometimes, you may need to drain your tank for thorough inspection. Be careful of scalding water and make sure to wipe water puddles around the base of the unit. Experts recommend shutting down the water heater the night before inspecting it to avoid scalding water.

Is your water heater leaking? If so, check all the plumbing connections to see if they are tightened enough. Water can easily leak if the pipe fittings are loose. Use a wrench to tighten the pipes while making sure not to over tighten them. Seeing rust stains around the fittings can indicate a major leaking problem. If water continues to leak, you may have to replace badly damaged pipes instead. It helps wrapping a Teflon tape around the threading to prevent water from leaking.

One important part of the water heater is the T&P valve. This safety valve releases pressure inside the tank, protecting it from overheating and blowing up. Once the pressure gets too heavy for the tank to handle, the relief valve automatically opens. However, water can start to leak from this valve if it opens more often than the usual. Tighten the loose valve and change the thermostat settings to a lower temperature.

Test the relief valve by lifting its lever while allowing water to exit the tank. Release it and let it snap back on its own to stop the water flow. If you notice your T&P valve leaking, replace it immediately. Ask help from a trusted professional for proper T&P valve installation.

Regular draining and flushing of the water heater help prevent sediments from building up. Attach a hose to the drain valve and place the other end to a secure drainage. Do not forget to open a hot water tap inside the house to release pressure, allowing water to drain easily. Open the valve to release the water until the tank is empty.

You may notice sediments sitting right at the bottom of the internal tank. Flush them all out by opening the cold water supply valve. Remember to remove the hose and place a bucket right below the drain valve to catch the hard water minerals. Wait until the water runs clear and before refilling.

These easy steps shouldn't be so difficult to follow if you have a specialist around. Remember, water heaters don't come cheap at all. That is why you have to extend its life while sustaining its efficiency at the same time. You can achieve this by performing regular water heater maintenance. Contact a specialist for professional water heater services.




About the Author:



No comments: