by Sarkinen Plumbing | Aug 06, 2019
Water heaters are among the most important plumbing components in any home or business. From your morning shower, to your weekly laundry, to washing your dishes every night, you need hot water—which means you need a functioning water heater. The average water heater should last up to 11 years, yet too many property owners fail to provide their water heaters with proper maintenance, and therefore don’t get to enjoy the device’s full lifespan. Keep reading to learn how to properly maintain your water heater, and make sure to contact our experienced Vancouver plumbers at Sarkinen Plumbing for water heater repair and installation.
Top 3 Tips for Maintaining Your Water Heater:
- Pay Attention to the Temperature: It’s important to check the thermostat on your water heater, as some manufacturers program the temperature to be hotter than is necessary. For instance, many companies set 140 degrees Fahrenheit as the default water heater temperature, which is unnecessarily hot. The higher your water heater temperature is, the greater chance that it’s going to cause mineral buildup and corrosion in your pipes—no to mention that someone in your family will end up scalding themselves while using the hot water. Ideally, you will want to adjust the default temperature to around 120 degrees. This will give you the heat you need, without wasting energy and damaging the water heater tank.
- Know When to Drain the Tank: You should be draining your water heater tank semi-regularly to get rid of sediment buildup. This will help ensure your water heater functions at peak efficiency for as long as possible. You can do this by simply turning off the cold water supply and attaching a garden hose to the drain valve. On average, you should flush out about a quarter of water in the tank, or enough until the remaining water is clear.
- Check the Pressure Relief Valve Regularly: Testing your pressure relief valve regularly is a great way to remove debris from your water heater. A functioning valve should release a spurt of hot water into the system’s drain pipe after you raise and lower the test lever. Make sure to call a professional plumber right away if the valve does not let out a burst of water, as improper pressure can have devastating consequences for your water heater.
To learn more about water heaters or for all your other plumbing needs, call Sarkenin Plumbing at (360) 369-3586, or contact us online.
