When you think about water heater maintenance, what comes to mind first? If you’re not sure on how to answer that question, then this blog post will be perfect for you! As a plumbing business, it likely comes as little surprise that water heaters are something we work with on a regular basis. After all, the water heater is a plumbing component that you need to have working each and every day. With that being said, in this week’s blog post, we’re going to review how you can effectively maintain your home or commercial facility’s water heater. There’s no denying that a water heater replacement can be a sizable investment, so anything you can do to keep it functioning properly will be well worth it!
Before we start reviewing everything you need to know about water heater maintenance, we would first like to say hello to anyone that is stopping by our plumbing blog for the first time. Welcome to Stine-Nichols Plumbing! We are a business located in North Kansas City, MO that provides residential, commercial and construction plumbing services throughout the Kansas City area. As mentioned above, water heaters are certainly a component that plumbing technicians deal with on a regular basis. Whether that be new water heater installations or repairing and maintaining existing heaters, there are certainly more than a few things to be mindful of on the topic of water heaters. Throughout this week’s blog post, we’ll review the final of those three items, which is the water heater maintenance side of things!
Water Heater Maintenance Tip #1: Remember to Flush Your Water Heater
If you’re looking for a water heater maintenance task with the ability to improve the longevity of your home or building’s water heater, then a routine flush is likely the answer you’re searching for. Many plumbing professionals would agree that a water heater flush is important for a number of different reasons and with that being the case, it’ll be the first item we discuss this week. A common question about this maintenance task involves how often you should be flushing your water heater. In most cases, we encourage customers to plan to flush their water heater at least once a year. The truth is the answer can be dependent on several factors though, like the current level of water hardness. Why can this be so impactful?
The reason why a water heater flush is so important is because mineral build-up can accumulate over time (because of hard water) and this simply makes it more difficult for a water heater to perform its day-to-day responsibilities. By flushing your water heater, you can remove this mineral build-up from the tank and restore your water heater back to normal operating condition. Whether you complete this water heater maintenance task on your own or hire a local plumber to complete it for you is your decision. Nonetheless, you can’t have a blog post about water heater maintenance without mentioning the value of flushing your water heater!
Water Heater Maintenance Tip #2: Don’t Procrastinate on Repairs
Would you agree that a water heater will receive consistent usage, no matter what the building is? From residential houses to all types of commercial facilities, water heaters are undoubtedly an important plumbing component. That’s a major reason why staying diligent on your water heater flushes can be such an important task! In addition to that, another item that is always worth mentioning with one’s plumbing system (and can be even more so critical with water heaters) involves avoiding any procrastination on repairs. Even if you stay up-to-date on the necessary maintenance tasks, issues can arise over time simply because of the daily wear and tear. With that being the case, if you ever notice something out of the ordinary, make sure to act quickly and avoid putting a water heater issue on the back burner.
What are a few potential water heater issues that you might encounter? A problem with the expansion tank is a possibility! We’ll talk about expansion tanks in more detail down below, but it’s worth noting that the main water heater tank could easily outlive the expansion tank, thus causing you to replace the expansion tank at some point! The anode rod is a water heater component that will probably need to be replaced during the water heater’s lifespan too. How about if your water heater starts making strange noises or you notice smelly/discolored water? Those are both signs that you should have a plumber take a look. In the end, this is just scratching the surface of possible water heater issues you may be faced with. Nonetheless, if something ever seems to be out of the ordinary, it never hurts to get an expert opinion of your local plumbing pro! If nothing else, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Water Heater Maintenance Tip #3: Make Sure Your Water Heater is Properly Installed
We understand that this final point likely seems a little easier said than done. After all, unless you have a background in the plumbing world, you may not be as familiar with the many pieces that comprise a water heater. Believe it or not, they are actually a little more complex than you may have initially expected. Nonetheless, with some basic knowledge, you can certainly have a general understanding of what’s what and as the section reads, make sure your water heater is properly installed.
The first item that I wanted to highlight, which we also referenced earlier, is the expansion tank. When water is heated, it expands in volume (thus, the term “thermal expansion”). Considering a water heater has a specific capacity (40 and 50-gallons are common sizes), where will this extra water/pressure go when the volume increases? The thermal expansion tank is the solution. They are required nowadays, but it is certainly worth confirming whether or not yours has one installed. Look towards the top of the main tank and see if there is a smaller one connected.
Another water heater component worth mentioning here would be the PRV and discharge line connected to it. A pressure-relief valve, or PRV, is responsible for acting as a safety measure. It is designed to open in the event that the temperature and/or pressure inside the water heater gets too high. It is important to make sure your water heater has a PRV and that it is functioning correctly. PRVs aren’t built to last forever and sometimes can require replacing prior to the actual water heater failing.
In the end, there are several components that make up a water heater. We highlighted a couple of the notable ones that serve important safety purposes above. Since these are geared more towards safety, these are certainly items you don’t want to ignore!
Need Help With Water Heater Maintenance? Give Us a Call!
No matter which brand, style or size of water heater you have installed, there’s no denying that maintenance is an important factor in getting the maximum number of years out of your water heater. And given that a new water heater installation can be a significant investment, consistent and proper water heater maintenance is always a smart move! Throughout this week’s blog post, we reviewed a few different items that are worth keeping in mind when it comes to water heater maintenance.
Still have questions about water heater maintenance? Not sure which items you should add to your regular to-do list to maintain your water heater? We would be more than happy to help out! Our team of plumbing pros have years of experience tackling a wide range of plumbing projects. Whether you need help with an actual water heater maintenance task or just have a few questions for us, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at (816) 348-3481.