Your water heater is one pretty used and more expensive appliances in your home, and consumes a large portion of your energy dollars each month. And experts say regular care and maintenance is essential to protecting your investment and saving with regards to your home heating as well as costs.
Regular flushing of your water heater has become single most important step you get to prolong its service life additionally, you will save energy. During time, sediments mount up in the bottom of your hot water heater. These sediments act as a barrier between the flame and the tank, thereby making your heater burn longer and hotter. This is not only destructive to the tank, but highly inefficient and will significantly raise your heating costs.
In most regions of the country, the average water heater lasts 3-5 years. Regularly flushing your water heater can double lifestyle of your water heater from 3-5 to 7-10 years. And with the costs of replacement running from $700 to over $1200 in some cases, getting the most from your heater is a must in today’s economic condition. In addition, regular flushing makes your hot water heater run more efficiently and can cut heating costs fifty percent. Depending on the volume of drinking water your home uses, that can mean a savings of $20 to over $50 a month.
To drain your water heater, first you should set the thermostat to pilot (if it is really a gas water heater) or turn the circuit breaker off (if it is electric heater). Failure to do so could result in overheating and severe damage to the actual heater. Next, close the water supply valve located on a water inlet line going into your water heater. Then you’re connect a garden hose to the drain valve located at the base of the space heater. Open the drain and allow it to play until all on the water has emptied from the air conditioner. Then close the drain. Open the water supply valve and refill the heater tank. You should also open a hot water faucet somewhere indoors and stand there and watch it run for several minutes until drinking water flows out quickly. This will allow air to vent because of the heater and the hot water lines. Finally, you can turn the thermostat back to its regular setting (for a gas heater), or turn the circuit breakers back on (for an electric heater).
Besides regularly flushing your water heater, plumbing experts also advise adding a water treatment system to your property to filter or condition the water so it is less corrosive to your plumbing system, particularly in areas possess hard water. For more ways to care for and protect your home plumbing system, contact a licensed, professional plumbing contractor in your neighborhood to discuss options and products to be fitting.
Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical
The Woodlands, TX
(281) 528-1610