When your water heater breaks or runs out of hot water too often, it can be frustrating. Maybe it’s an old model that no longer meets modern building codes, or maybe you have a family of six and want to limit how often you have to run the faucet to keep water flowing. Whatever the situation may be, it’s important to know how to maintain your water heater yourself so you can fix the problem before it becomes a much larger issue. There are many things you can do to keep your water heater in good working condition and prevent it from breaking down completely. Here are some ideas you may want to consider so you can avoid calling a plumber in the near future and save yourself some money on water bills. Maintaining your water heater doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With a little know-how and the right tools, you can perform most tasks yourself in just a few hours. Whether you want to tackle all of these tasks or just one, the tips listed below will help you get the most out of your time and effort when maintaining your water heater as a homeowner.
The anode rod and water-pipe anode are two different parts of your water heater that are designed to protect the internal components from corrosion. An anode is a negatively charged metal rod that traps positive ions in the water, protecting the rest of the system from corrosion. The water-pipe anode is a flexible rubber pipe that is installed inside the water-pipe, which traps positive ions as well. The combination of the anode rod and water-pipe anode helps protect your water heater against corrosion, which is one of the most common causes of water-heater breakdowns.
If your water-heater’s pilot light won’t stay lit, it’s time to get it repaired. If the pilot light won’t stay lit, it means there’s a problem with the gas supply, which means you’ll need to call a plumber to come out and repair or replace the gas line. When you turn on the water-heater, the pilot light is what burns first to heat the water in the tank and allow it to flow through the rest of the system. If the pilot light won’t light, you’ll have to wait until the water in the tank reaches the proper temperature before your water comes out of your faucets.
If you have stubborn stains or scummy build-up inside your water-heater, baking soda and vinegar can help to clean the inside without a lot of scrubbing. You can also run a hose through the inside of the water-heater, spraying vinegar on the walls and baking soda on the bottom to create an abrasive cleaning solution. These two products can loosen up dirt and grime that would otherwise be very difficult to remove without specialized tools and chemicals.
It’s important to make sure the thermostat for your water-heater is set properly. If it’s set too high, you’ll waste energy, which can drive up your water bill. On the other hand, if the thermostat is set too low, your water will run cold and you’ll be out of hot water much sooner. To set the thermostat, you’ll need to turn off the power to the water-heater, and then use a wrench to remove the cover on the thermostat. You should then adjust the thermostat to the desired temperature.
Depending on how long your water-heater has been in use, you may need to replace the anode in your water-heater. The water-heater anode protects the water-heater from corrosion, which is why it’s installed in the first place. If you change your water filter, you may also need to change your water-heater’s anode. While you’re at it, you may also want to clean out the inside of the water-heater, removing any build-up or residue that could be causing issues with the water flow.
The pressure relief valve is there to protect your water-heater from being overfilled with water. If the tank is full and the water pressure is too high, the pressure relief valve will let excess water out of the tank. Depending on the kind of water-heater and where you live, there may be a limit to how full the tank can be before the pressure relief valve opens. When you clean the tank, you may also want to clean out the pressure relief valve, removing any build-up or residue that could be causing issues with the water flow.
Keeping your water-heater in good working order is essential to having reliable hot water at all times. There are many different maintenance tasks you can perform yourself to check on your water-heater and make sure it’s running smoothly and efficiently. It will save you time, money, and hassle in the long run if you can perform these tasks yourself instead of waiting on a plumber to come out and fix it.