Water Heater Maintenance

Your home’s water heater is an expensive fixture that you will want to take care of. Why spend money to call for repair or, worse yet, replacement if you can avoid it? The following tips will help you keep your water heater running smoothly for years to come.

The anode rod in your water heater just might be the best kept secret in plumbing. You may not even know that you have one or what it does. The anode is an aluminum or magnesium rod with a steel core that is screwed into the water heater. The rod is sacrificial and corrodes rather than the water heater itself. The rod should be inspected annually and replaced on average every five years. If it is corroded down to the steel core it should be replaced. If not, the corrosion will move to the water heater itself.

Regularly flushing your water heater is also a vital part of proper maintenance. Left unchecked, sediment can have numerous negative effects on your water heater. The efficiency of the burner will be greatly reduced with sediment at the bottom of the tank and this means more costly utility bills. To remove the sediment from your water heater just attach a hose to the valve at the bottom of the tank. Open the valve and let the water run out until it appears clear. Be careful while doing this as the water coming out is extremely hot!

The thermostat for your water heater should be inspected periodically as well. If it appears damaged or you notice that the water temperature fluctuates it may need replacement. You will want to call a professional to have this done.

The dip tube on your water heater is a plastic pipe that moves cold water entering from the top of the tank down to the base of the tank. Symptoms of a damaged dip tube include hot showers that rapidly turn cold. If this is the case, you will need to shut off the cold water supply line, remove the water supply line nipple from the top of the tank, and replace the damaged dip tube.

The pressure relief valve located high on the side of the tank should be tested twice a year. Simply activate the lever on the valve briefly to ensure it works properly. This will lessen the likelihood of corrosion and mineral buildups causing a leak.

Finally, be absolutely sure to inspect the flue pipe. It should be properly aligned with the exhaust port on top of the water heater. Local code will also tell you how much it should be angled towards your exit point (oftentimes a chimney). You can verify it is functioning properly by lighting a match and holding it under the vent pipe. The flame should be pulled toward the pipe indicating that air is being drawn up and out of your home. If the flame looks like it is being pushed away from the vent pipe you have a serious problem and burnt gas is not venting properly. Call a professional immediately to have it fixed.

If you have further questions about maintaining your water heater give the professionals at Mies Plumbing a call. We’ll help ensure that your water heater doesn’t tank.