Your water heater is one of the used and much more costly appliances in your home, and consumes a large portion of your energy dollars each month. And experts say regular care and maintenance is essential to protecting your investment and saving on your home heating as well as costs.
Regular flushing of your water heater has become single most important step you consider to prolong its service life and to save energy. A duration of time, sediments amass in the bottom of your water heater. These sediments act as a barrier between the flame and the tank, thereby making your heater burn longer and hotter. In part destructive to the tank, but highly inefficient and will significantly raise your heating costs.
In most areas of the country, the common water heater lasts 3-5 years. Regularly flushing your hot water heater can double existence of your hot 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 from your heater is a must in today’s markets. In addition, regular flushing makes your water heater run more efficiently and can cut heating costs in half. Depending on the volume of hot water your home uses, that can mean a savings of $20 to over $50 a month or so.
To drain your water heater, you can find should set the thermostat to pilot (if it is really a gas water heater) or turn the circuit breaker off (if it is actually electric heater). Failure to do so could result in overheating and severe damage to the water heater. Next, close the water supply valve located on a water inlet line going into your water heater. You may then connect a hose to the drain valve located in the bottoom of the hot water heater. Open the drain and allow it to play until all of your water has emptied from the heater. Then close the drain. Open the water supply valve and refill the hot water heater. You should also open a hot water faucet somewhere inside and stand there and watch it run for several minutes until the actual flows out perfectly. This will allow air to vent from the heater and the hot water lines. Finally, you can turn the thermostat back 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 to your home to filter or condition the water so it is less corrosive to your plumbing system, particularly in areas possess hard stream. For more ways to care for and protect your home plumbing system, contact a licensed, professional plumbing contractor in your area to discuss options and products to fit the bill.
Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical
The Woodlands, TX
(281) 528-1610