Tips For Keeping Your Hot Water Heater Alive

A water heater can last for a very long time if properly cared for and maintained. If ignored, then it’s going to die sooner than expected. The last thing you want is to find yourself with no hot water during your morning shower.

Here is a simple maintenance task you can complete at home that is guaranteed to improve the lifespan of your water heater.

Water Heater Maintenance Tips

Flushing The Tank

Experts suggest flushing your hot water heater tank once every 1 to 3 years. It’s always best to take the safe route and flush the tank on an annual basis. It’s extremely simple and takes only a few minutes of your time.

The point of flushing the tank is to remove any unwanted sediment build-up that has occurred inside of the tank. If ignored, that sediment can eventually clog water lines and even lead to leaks. It also reduces the overall efficiency of the tank, which results in increased energy prices. The simple act of flushing the tank solves both of these problems.

To accomplish this, start by turning off the electricity to the water heater or the gas if it is a gas heater. Next, shut down the cold water that flows into the heater. Take a standard garden hose and connect it to the outgoing drain valve. The end of the hose should be outside of the home in an area that won’t be harmed by hot water.

Open the pressure relief valve and the drain valve. Wait a few moments as the tank drains completely. After all of the water has drained from the tank you can close the drain valve and disconnect the hose. Close the pressure relief valve. Now walk around the house and turn on each tap with hot water. Turn on the cold water flowing into the tank. Return to the taps one at a time and turn them off as water begins to flow. Finally, after all spigots are turned off, return power to the tank.

Check The Pressure Valve

Any time you are flushing the tank is also a great time to check the integrity of the pressure valve. All tanks have a temperature and pressure valve that functions as a safety mechanism. You can check this valve while flushing the tank after you turned off the electricity or gas to the heater as well as the cold water input.

After shutting off the cold water you should place a bucket directly beneath the pressure relief valve. There will be a trip lever nearby. Pull the lever and you should see water, air, and possibly vapor exit from the valve. This is a sign that the valve is working properly. You can now continue with flushing the tank. If the valve is not working, then you should still continue with flushing the tank, but then replace the valve before restoring power and cold water input.

Flushing a tank and checking the valve shouldn’t take any longer than thirty minutes. Albeit, you should expect it to take slightly longer if you need to physically replace the valve.

These simple maintenance steps can add many years to the lifespan of your water heater.