Water Heater Maintenance

Proper and routine maintenance can help to increase your water heater’s efficiency and extend its life. Follow these steps to make sure that your water heater is in tip top shape!

Check Your Anode Rod:You water heater’s anode rod is in place, in part, to prevent hot water from corroding the inside of the tank and, in doing so, shortening its life. To check your anode rod, attach a hose to you water tank’s drain and drain a few gallons of water. Once visible, unscrew the anode rod, check for deterioration (the rod should be at least a half inch thick) or calcium build up, and replace as necessary.

Drain Your Tank: Annually your water tank should be drained and rinsed of sediment. To do so, drain the water from the tank. Once drained, stir up your tank’s sediment by quickly releasing the cold water supply. Drain the tank again. Rinse, drain and repeat until the runoff water drains clear. Once rinsed, refill your tank and turn the power back on.

Check Your Pipes For Condensation: In the summer months, the cold-water pipe on your water heater can develop a buildup of condensation. If this happens with your water heater, consider insulation. To do so, apply self-sticking, 3/8-inch-thick foam around the pipe’s diameter, on both the hot- and cold-water pipes.

Set The Temperature: While this is more of a cost saving measure than a maintenance task, checking the temperature of your water heater is a worthwhile measure all the same. To do so, find your water heater’s temperature dial and unscrew the cover. From here, the temperature can be adjusted with a flat head screw driver. According to Consumer Reports, for each ten degrees that the temperature is dropped, homeowners can expect a savings of up to five-percent off of their energy bill!