13 Tips to Extend the Lifespan of Your Water Heater
It’s important to remember that with proper maintenance, gas water heaters can last anywhere from 7 to 12 years. Electric water heaters typically last 10 to 15 years if properly maintained. Water heater maintenance is essential for extending the life of your water heater. Here are seven useful suggestions for extending the life of your water heater.
The key to extending the life of your water heater is regular maintenance. Follow these basic maintenance tips to keep the hot water running for longer.
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1. Perform Regular Water Heater Maintenance
Regular maintenance inspections are the most effective strategy to extend the life of your water heater. Turn off the cold water supply to the tank and run one of the hot water faucets in your house.
It’ll show you what needs to be replaced or repaired before your appliance suffers irreversible harm or stops working altogether. Make sure to do the following during your checks:
- Make sure the area surrounding the water heater is clear.
- Learn how to shut off the water supply.
- Keep notes on the sort of water heater you have, where it is located in your home, the model number, and the serial number.
2. Choose the Right Temperature
Setting the temperature of your water heater is a simple procedure that only needs to be completed once. If you are going on vacation, however, it is recommended that you modify the temperature before you go. To alter the temperature setting on your electric water heater, unscrew the temperature dial cover on the side of the tank with a screwdriver. Contact Hot Water Repairs Central Coast if you notice anything unusual. Adjust the temperature to 120 degrees with a flathead screwdriver. Reduce your temperature by simply 10 degrees to save 5% on your energy expenditures. Are you unsure how to proceed? Seek the help of a professional from Fix It 24/7.
3. Think about getting an expansion tank
Adding an expansion tank to your water will help it last substantially longer. This is especially true for water heaters that have closed systems. Back flow into the water main is not possible with closed systems. This means that when water expands, the excess water has nowhere to go. These pressure variations in your water heat degrade it over time. Tank expansion tanks are small tanks attached to water heaters that take on excess water during expansion. allows water to evacuate, extending the life of the water system. If you have any questions or are unsure how to install an expansion tank, read the manual carefully or contact a trusted maintenance service for assistance.
4.
If your water heater is linked to a gas line, make sure the connection is free of cracks, rust, and leaks on a frequent basis. If you find any of these indicators of damage, call your local plumber right away to have the line repaired. A simple repair now will save you the headache and expense of replacing your water heater down the road.
5. Test the Pressure Relief Valve
The pressure relief valve is a safety valve that can be found on the water heater’s top or side. If the pressure inside your water heater becomes too high, it will automatically open and release water. Your water heater could explode if the valve fails (a worst-case scenario).
Premature water heater failure can happen when the water pressure is above 90 pounds per square inch.
Regularly check your pressure valve to guarantee that your heater lasts as long as feasible. By placing a bucket underneath the T&P valve, pulling the lever, and releasing a few gallons of water, you can accomplish this. The water should stop flowing completely once you close the valve. It’s time to replace it if it doesn’t.
6. Activate the Valve Manually
In the instance of an overpressure situation, water is evacuated through the safety valve or group. Every year, you should consider manually working the mechanism. This move is simple yet helpful in removing any lime or tartar that has developed there.
7. Drain the Tank Regularly
Draining your water heater’s tank helps to remove any sediment and mineral deposits that have built up over time. If you live in an area with hard water, this is especially important because the minerals will settle at the bottom of your tank and reduce its efficiency. Draining your water heater once a year should be sufficient.
Draining your water heater on a yearly basis will help to remove any sediment that has built up in the tank over time. This simple task also allows you to check for leaks in the tank. To drain your water heater, follow these steps:
- Shut off the power supply to your water heater.
- Attach a garden hose to the drain valve on your water heater and direct the hose to an outdoor drainage area.
- Open the pressure relief valve on your water heater.
- Open the hot water faucet in your home.
- When the tank is empty, close the drain valve and remove the garden hose.
- Turn on the power supply to your water heater.
- Open the hot water faucet in your home and allow the tank to refill.
- Close the pressure relief valve when water starts coming out of it.
8. Defend Your Water Heater From Limestone Formation
Any water pipe’s greatest foe is limestone! This is the first thing to examine if you want to get the most out of your water heater, as scale can drastically degrade its effectiveness. How? ‘Or’ What? To begin with, heating the water takes longer, consuming significantly more energy. Lime also poses the greatest threat to the resistance and thermostat, potentially causing both to fail. In this situation, a thorough cleaning is required. It is recommended that you:
- Turn off the electricity;
- Turn off the house’s water supply:
- Drain the entire contents of the water heater;
- To open the water heater, unscrew the flange;
- To examine the amount of lime accumulated on the parts, disconnect the wires from the thermostat and remove the resistance.
- Clean them with an anti-lime chemical and a towel or sponge. The descaling anode may need to be replaced if the lime coating on the resistance is too thick.
Electric models, on the other hand, are considerably better at preventing limescale because they have a water heater (magnesium) anode that protects against corrosion and makes it easier to remove limescale from the electrical resistance.
Save on your bill and extend the life of your water heater with smart functions.
9. Turn on Vacation Mode
When you’re going on vacation, set your water heater to vacation mode. Vacation mode reduces the temperature of your water to save energy by not heating water that will not be used. This function will help you save money and minimize silt accumulation and corrosion by increasing your energy efficiency.
If your water heater doesn’t have a vacation mode, you can still lower the temperature to save electricity. If you’re not sure how to accomplish this securely, call a qualified plumber.
10. Regularly Flush the Tank
Sediment buildup, which is frequently produced by natural mineral deposits or particles in your water supply, can collect at the bottom of your tank, causing internal corrosion and lowering its performance.
Flushing your water heater tank once a year can keep it working at its optimum. To eliminate the buildup, simply drain approximately three gallons of water from your tank. Drain with caution, as the water will be extremely hot. Install a Smart Water Shutoff as an extra precaution. This device will catch any leaks that may occur in your expansion tank, as well as leaks in your complete plumbing system.
If you reside in a region with hard water, where mineral deposits are more common, flush your system more regularly than once a year.
11. Check the Anode Rod
An anode rod is a piece of metal that is inserted in a water heater to prevent rusting of the tank. This is accomplished by attracting all corrosion before it reaches the steel in the tank. The problem is that once the anode rod is completely corroded, the steel tank can rust and suffer irreversible damage.
You should check your anode rod at least once a year to see if it needs to be replaced. If the anode rod is more than half consumed, it’s time for a replacement. Water can be detected by a smart water detector, which can assist prevent excess moisture or even flooding caused by broken pipes or appliances.
Always call a professional water heater maintenance company if you’re feeling overwhelmed or fear your equipment has been damaged.
12. Install a Water Softener
If you live in a residential location where the water has a high mineral concentration, you should consider installing a water softener to extend the life of your water heater. Hard water has a high mineral concentration. Your water system’s lifespan can be shortened by hard water. Mineral buildup causes your water system to become dysfunctional, which can wear it down over time.
The good news is that a water softener can be installed to filter out the minerals that create hard water, allowing only (or largely) soft water to pass through your plumbing system.
Water softeners remove minerals from water, making it easier for your system to function properly and last longer. In addition, softened water can save you money on your energy bill by allowing your system to work more efficiently.
13. Licensed Plumbers Inspections Annually
Regular inspections with licensed professionals that oversee Water maintenance are recommended if you want to keep your hot water system healthy and well-functioning. Regular inspections will help to extend the life of your hot water system and reduce the amount of malfunctions.
An inspection will include:
- A full examination of your water heater and all connections
- A review of your home’s water pressure
- Inspection of the anode rod to see if it needs to be replaced
- Flushing out the tank to remove any sediment buildup
After the inspection, the plumber will be able to recommend any necessary repairs or replacements that should be made in order to keep your system running smoothly.
Contact Fix-It 24/7 Today
The team at Fix-It 24/7 has been operating in the home service industry for over 40 years. We take pride in the top-notch work and customer service that we provide our customers in the Centennial, CO area. We stand by our work, and that is why we guarantee your satisfaction 100%!
If your Centennial, CO home needs any HVAC or plumbing services, don’t hesitate to call Fix-It 24/7 today.
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