The cold weather in your area may be making the water heater in your house run especially heavy. Perhaps it's time to call a water heater repair specialist. Well, if you've never had a plumbing system before let me tell you; it can be terrifying! It's best to learn about what could go wrong and get ahead of the problem before you have to call a plumber out.
For starters, a lot of people don't realize that there is a very fine line between having a working water heater and one that needs to be repaired. The early warning signs are pretty easy to see and in many cases can be fixed by homeowners. The following 10 tips will help you steer clear from the repairman and keep your water heater up and running for many, many years.
#1: Keep it turned down! - Some people say that 60-degrees is the ideal temperature setting for household hot water heaters. The temperature is important for energy efficiency but the biggest reason why you should keep it at 60 or below is because when it gets too hot, bacteria and mold could start to grow in your pipes and water heater.
#2: Don't pour acidic products into the tank - There are certain products that you should never pour down the drain of your sink or toilet like hair color, bleach, ammonia and even some cleaning products. All of these things can be harmful or damaging to the inner workings of your water heater.
#3: Make sure that the venting system is in good working order - When you are feeling a draft coming from the vent around your water heater you may want to take a look and see if it's clogged, cracked or missing. It is important to make sure that all of this flue pipe is clear because if it isn't, the water in your tank could evaporate before actually reaching the heater and heating up.
#4: Keep the drain line clear - Just like the venting system, leaving a clogged drain line will mean that your water heater will not be able to heat up the water. The clog could mean that you will also end up with a nasty health problem or even an ugly smell in your house.
#5: Clean it out - The inside of your water tank needs a good cleaning once in awhile as well. The tank is one of the main places where bacteria and mold can grow which is why you should try and clean it out as often as you can.
#6: Change the anode rod - Anodes are meant to help prevent corrosion on the inner workings of your water heater. If these aren't replaced every few years, your anode rod won't work effectively and your water heater will corrode even more quickly.
#7: Keep it level - Water heaters are heavy and need to have a sturdy, level surface so that they don't topple over. If you've got a water heater that's sitting on a wonky or wobbly surface, you need to fix water heater problems before it falls off of the wall and causes an even bigger problem.
#8: Watch out for leaks - One of the most common problems with water heaters is leaks. You can usually visually see a leak on your water heater if it is dripping wet underneath, but even a little leak could end up costing you a lot of money over time. You will also want to make sure that there aren't any leaks anywhere in the pipes leading to or away from the water heater because they could all lead back to one bigger problem.
#9: Keep tabs on the temperature gauge - A lot of people forget about checking this basic device in their house. You should make sure that your water heater temperature gauge is operating properly and showing you the right temperature on the dial every day. You should also check it when you first turn it on in the morning and when it shuts down after the first few minutes of running. A frozen thermostat could mean a very low or even frozen thermostat, so you will want to flush and replace your old one as well.
#10: Keep it clean - If you want to keep your water heater at its best, you need to keep it clean. You want to make sure that the inside of the tank and the outside of it are always as clean as possible so that bacteria doesn't grow in there.
There are many more things to consider when it comes to having a safe, working water heater then just these 10 easy
Conclusion:
It is natural for homeowners to fret about whether or not their water heater is running right and when it will run out of hot water. These are the things that should be checked regularly in order to avoid an expensive visit to a professional plumber. A little awareness and common sense can go a long way! If you are facing any water heater problems, call All Star Plumbing And Restoration to get the best water heater services.
Author Bio:-Laura Harnes
Laura is a marketing manager at All Star Plumbing & Restoration. With years of experience in the plumbing industry, she loves to create awareness about the causes, problems, and repair solutions of water damage and slab leak. She shares expert tips to lower utility bills and keep your AC, heater, and other appliances in optimum condition leading to longer lifespan.
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