How To Keep Your Water Heater in Tip-Top Shape

Your water heater requires regular maintenance to run efficiently, effectively, and last longer. That’s because minerals and other sediments accumulate in water heaters, and can cause your water heater to work harder to do its job. It can even cause the tank to rust. However, with a few steps and tasks, you can keep your water heater in tip-top shape!

Make Sure To Turn Off Your Power Supply

Most importantly before you perform any maintenance on your water heater, you want to make sure that it is turned OFF. That’s right, your water heater is not only connected to your water supply but it is also connected to a power supply. If your water heater is powered by gas, turn the gas valve to the OFF position. If your water heater is powered by electricity, you’ll need to switch off the circuit breaker for the heater in your home’s breaker box. Remember, safety first!

Check The Temperature

Pay close attention to the thermostat on your water heater. Some manufacturers set the temperature to 140 degrees Fahrenheit by default, which is hotter than what most households need. High temperatures can cause scalding, as well as accelerated mineral buildup, and corrosion in the pipes. A recommended setting for your water heater is generally around 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which prevents tank damage and helps you save some money!

Test The Pressure Relief Valve

Place a bucket under the end-opening of the pressure release valve line to capture any water you will release from the water heater. Flip the valve a couple of times to see if it is working properly, it should be releasing about two cups of water in a steady stream. Keep in mind that the water will be hot, so be careful not to burn yourself! If the valve is not letting out a big burst each time, call our team at JD Service Now to take a look.

Flush Your Water Heater

You’ll also want to flush your water heater to prevent rust and corrosion sediment from rusting out your water heater tank. We suggest having a professional do this if you aren’t familiar with it.

To flush the heater, connect a hose to the faucet-like outlet on the tank unit. Open the water supply valve to drain. You can then close the valve off every gallon or two to ensure maximum results. You will want to drain and repeat until clean water comes out of the hose. You can also save a bit of time by doing a partial flush, releasing two or three gallons of water from the tank using the drain valve.

Water heater issues can be a headache … we know! Luckily, if you keep up on the maintenance of your water heater you will likely not run into any big issues. If you need professional help to keep up on the maintenance of your system, give the team at JD Service Now a call at 919-626-3626! We would love to TAKE GREAT CARE OF YOU!