Having a water heater in your home is not only a luxury but a necessity. It brings you comfort by heating the water, thereby making it easier for you to bathe and wash your dishes. Therefore, you need to examine your water heater’s state often to ensure it’s operating efficiently. You would be surprised to know that performing minor preventive maintenance prolongs the life of your water heater. You also save money that would have been spent on repairing your water heater due to overheating. The key to keeping your water heater working at optimal conditions is to follow these tips for maintaining your water heater.

1. Understand Your Water Heater

Knowing the type of water heater you have installed in your house can help ensure water does not overheat. The details about the capacity and type of water heater you desire are typically affixed on the tank’s label. The sticker contains information concerning your water heater’s warranty period, which helps you determine whether it can address your needs effectively. It would help if you also considered booking a service from an expert plumbing company to investigate unanticipated water heating problems regularly.

2. Check Temperature Pressure Relief (TPR) Valve

An overheating water heater can blow up due to internal pressure buildup in the system, making it unsafe. As a result, manufacturers equip water heaters with a TPR valve, which works as a safety valve. The valve releases pressure from the tank once it senses it has reached dangerous levels. You should test your TPR valve often to ensure it operates optimally to avoid overheating. A blocked pressure relief valve can lead to the water heater exploding. If you hear the sound of boiling water within the system, consider shutting down the water heater and engage a plumber to check whether the system works correctly and help prevent further damage to the water heater.

3. Maintain Low Temperatures

Eradicating various pathogens that lead to overheating necessitates maintaining your water heater’s temperature at about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. You should regulate the setting by turning your water heater’s thermostat up or down. This modest means of maintaining your water heater can save you on electricity costs. To ensure that your water heater’s temperature is manageable, consult an expert plumber to set the right temperature for your water heater to prevent it from overheating.

4. Perform an Anode Rod Test

The anode rod placed inside your water heater plays an essential role in attracting impurities and rust in your water heater. These impurities are key contributors to overheating in your water heater. Consider replacing your water heater’s anode rod when it wears out to ensure it continues functioning optimally. Consider hiring an expert to swap the rod when it has become coated with calcium sediments or if its thickness has reduced by almost half an inch. Therefore, it’s advisable to have a plumber perform regular checkups on the anode rod of your water heater more than once every three years. Doing so would allow you to save money from unnecessary repairs that come with the problems associated with overheating your water heater.

5. Pipe Insulation

Insulating the pipes leading to and out of your water tank is essential. It’s a modest and inexpensive way of improving your water heater’s efficiency, preventing it from overheating. Insulation can also prevent heat loss by more than 45%, thus reducing spending on overheating water heaters.

If you bought your water heater recently, you would realize it’s already insulated. However, if your water heater model is old, consider contacting an HVAC expert such as Hope Plumbing to help you install a new R-value type of 24 or more. Also, you can examine the degree of insulation by touching your water heater. If you feel warmth, insulate the water heater further. A professional plumber can help you by covering each pipe with foam pipe insulation before joining it with the hot water tank.

6. Yearly Water Heater Draining

Since not all minerals will get filtered out through the system filtration unit, some may aggregate and settle on the bottom of the water heater or around the heating element. Annual water heater flushing is essential since it allows you to clean your tank’s inside and remove any sediment present. When the heating elements are coated with the silt of mineral deposits in warm water, they require more heat than usual, leading to inefficiency and increased energy bills. Also, it can lead to overheating of the heating components, making the whole water heater overheat.

An expert plumber can install a water softener, which can minimize the accumulation of sediments and improve the water heater’s efficiency.

7. Plug Checking

You will likely notice that your switch might ignite if you utilize a cable that lacks an adequate power supply. If you have more significant power fluctuations and electrical wattage, you will realize that the pins and plug heat up, which leaves marks on the pins and the plug. To avert electrical short circuits from occurring, utilize new sockets and plugs from trusted brands.

8. Regular Switching Off

You should avoid keeping your water heater on for prolonged periods since it can reduce lifespan. Thus, it’s more sensible to turn it on five minutes before using it instead of 30 minutes in advance. Switching off the water heater can reduce energy consumption, saving you on its running cost. Installing a timer can reduce the need to turn on or off the water heater manually. However, due to many timer options in the market, consult a professional plumber to determine the best timer to suit your needs.

9. Switching From Plastic Inlet-Outlet Pipes to Metal Pipes

It would help to utilize metal inlet-outlet pipes since they resist heat more than plastic ones that come with regular water heaters. You are also required to check the joints often. Once you notice white deposits around the joints due to corrosion or hard water, change or repair your inlet-outlet water pipes to avoid overheating.

10. Annual Maintenance

Finally, to ensure your water heater is safe from overheating, you should seek a professional to perform maintenance annually. If you wish to avoid water heater issues altogether, you should seek a water heater expert such as our team at Hope Plumbing to perform the task. This way, you can get rudimentary water heater maintenance often, which would extend its lifespan.

Maintaining your water heater ensures it is safe from overheating, allowing it to serve your heating needs effectively. Hope Plumbing is your ultimate solution provider for the various water heating issues you might encounter. We have a team of experienced professionals who specialize in providing various services like fixture installations and plumbing repairs if you are in Indianapolis. We can also help with leak detection, sump pumps, and gas lines. Contact us today to have your water heater problems addressed, also turn to us for a plumbing inspection!

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