Keep Your Appliance in Tip-Top Shape With Water Heater Maintenance

You may not give your water heater much thought until the shower turns cold, or a repair or replacement is needed. However, the water heater is an important appliance that is used daily in practically every home. Consider these water heater maintenance tips to raise the performance of your system and lower your utility bill.

Water Heater Maintenance

Regular maintenance helps your water heater operate safely and efficiently. When maintaining your system, remember that you're not only dealing with very hot water, but also high pressure. Water heaters have a built-in safety feature called the temperature and pressure (T&P) valve. This device should be checked at least every six months. Here's how:

• Turn off the electricity at the circuit box or turn the gas to pilot.

• Turn off the cold water inlet valve, which is located near the top of the water heater on the side. A pipe may extend from the valve to near the bottom of the water heater.

• Place a bucket beneath the pipe to catch hot water.

• Pull the lever on the valve. Air and hot water should rush out. If it does not, replace the valve.

• If you ever notice the valve dripping water, replace it.

Refer to your owner's manual for flushing the tank. Many manufacturer's suggest flushing the water heater twice a year. This is best left to a professional. In between full tank flushes, perform a mini flush every month. Place a bucket beneath the drain valve at the bottom of the tank and flush about one gallon of water. This helps remove sediment and preserve water heater lining.

Water Heater Efficiency

To help your water heater operate more efficiently, set the temperature to 120 degrees. You may also insulate the inlet and outlet pipes. Newer water heaters are well insulated to curb standby heat loss. If your water heater is warm to the touch, consider installing a blanket or jacket insulation.

If you have questions or would like to schedule water heater maintenance in your Broken Arrow area home, contact Air Assurance today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “thodonal88/Shutterstock”

Your Water Heater Needs Seasonal Maintenance: Here's How

Your Water Heater Needs Seasonal Maintenance: Here's How

When the seasons shift and it's time to start thinking about preventive maintenance for your HVAC system, expand your attention a little further to appliances such as your water heater. With regular maintenance, your water heater will run more efficiently, at a lower cost, and at a higher level of safety.Flush the tankDuring normal use, sediments and other material will accumulate in the bottom of your water heater's storage tank. Removing these sediments helps prevent damaging rust and corrosion within your water heater. A clean tank also improves system efficiency, which reduces the amount you pay every month for hot-water expenses.A complete tank flush should be performed as part of seasonal preventive maintenance. You can occasionally perform a smaller-scale flush by following these steps:

1. Locate the drain valve near the bottom of the tank. It will likely look like a faucet or similar type of plumbing fixture.

2. Put an empty bucket under the drain.

3. The drain may have a handle or a large slot in a valve designed to be turned by a flat-blade screwdriver. Turn the handle or slotted valve to start a flow of water into the bucket.

4. Drain a few gallons of water from the tank, then shut off the valve and empty the bucket.

Test temperature and pressure (T&P) valveYou should test T&P valve of your water heater regularly to make sure it works properly. The T&P valve is designed to release internal pressure if the water in the heater gets too hot or develops too much pressure. This prevents the water heater from bursting and causing damage or injury.To test the valve, lift up on the handle and release it. The valve should quickly snap back into place, accompanied by a gurgling sound of water moving into the drain. If the valve returns to position slowly or not at all, have your HVAC technician replace it immediately.HVAC customers in Tulsa and Broken Arrow can count on Air Assurance for reliable, expert HVAC sales, maintenance and repair. Contact us today for more information on maintaining your water heater or to schedule a professional maintenance inspection for your hot-water system.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  Image courtesy of Shutterstock