Paul's Plumbing Tips

Budget-friendly Ways to Boost Your Heater's Lifespan

The joy of having a constant stream of hot water whenever you need to take a bath or wash your dishes is often taken for granted. Most people don't really take their heaters into consideration when doing some maintenance activities around the house. And when it comes to steel-tank heaters, rust is one of its arch enemies.

Manufacturer's try and prevent the tanks inevitable demise, but they can only do so much. A malfunctioning tank can use up a lot of energy and if things get sour, rapture your tank. So here are some low-budget tips of keeping your heater lasting long.

Replace your anode rod

This is one of the 'tricks' manufacturers use to prevent rust from devouring the tank whole. What the anodes do is simple, they rust sacrificially so that your tank doesn't. So you may want to replace these anodes when they are thinned out. Unfortunately, there's no easy way to tell if your anode is intensively corroded without unscrewing the anode.

However, you can use the manufacturer's warranty as a rough guide. Try and replace the anode just before the warranty is over. For instance, if your tank has got a 5 year warranty, you could replace the anode after 4 years.

You could also add another anode, and they can be cheaply purchased at your local hardware store.

Check the T&P valve

If your tank doesn't have a pressure valve, then you better get one, and fast. Normally, they are mounted within the top 152mm of the storage tank. Its main duty is to relieve the pressure and temperature of the tank when things get too hot. A malfunctioning valve could even lead to a rapture.

When the T&P valve is constantly letting out steam, then the pressure build up is happening too fast and you should probably lower your water temperatures. However if this persists, then the valve is faulty and needs replacement. If you really don't want to lower your water temperatures, then an expansion tank is a good route to take. It'll contain all that extra pressure whenever the temperature and pressure rises.

Flush your tank

Flushing your tank is particularly important if you're in an area where the mineral content in the water is extremely high. When the water is heated, these substances build up in the tank and cause scaling which significantly reduces your tanks lifespan. You need to completely flush out the water in the tank.

Turn off the cold water inlet, attach a garden hose and let the water drain out. Afterwards, turn on the cold water and then continue draining the tank. This will ensure all sediments are drained out and prevent long-term build up.

To learn more about this, contact hot water installation services. 


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