Your water heater is one of the used and more expensive 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 from the home heating and costs.
Regular flushing of the water heater is considered the 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 hot water heater. These sediments act as a barrier between the flame and the tank, thereby making your heater burn longer and hotter. This is not merely destructive to the tank, but highly inefficient and will significantly raise your heating costs.
In most regions of the country, the common water heater lasts 3-5 years. Regularly flushing your water heater can double living of your water heater from 3-5 to 7-10 years. Something else costs of replacement running from $700 to over $1200 in some cases, getting the most out of your heater is in today’s markets. In addition, regular flushing makes your hot water heater run more efficiently and can cut heating costs in half. Depending on the volume of drinking 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 heater. Next, close the water supply valve located more than a water inlet line going into your water heater. You may then connect a garden hose to the drain valve located at the base of the hot water heater. Open the drain and allow it to run until all for the water has emptied from the heater. 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 water flows out gradually. This will allow air to vent via the heater and the hot water lines. Finally, you can turn the thermostat 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 actually always less corrosive to your plumbing system, particularly in areas which have hard wetness. For more ways to care for and protect your home plumbing system, contact a licensed, professional plumbing contractor in your neighborhood to discuss options and products to fit the bill.
Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical
The Woodlands, TX
(281) 528-1610