As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to ensure that all your household appliances receive the care and maintenance they need to stay in top condition. One appliance that you may not give a lot of thought to is your water heater. However, it’s imperative to ensure it receives maintenance at least once a year, typically during the fall season.

What Is Water Heater Maintenance?

Water heater maintenance is a general term given to encompass multiple tasks that are done with your water heater to help boost its overall operating performance and life span. These tasks include flushing the unit, inspecting it for leaks and corrosion, replacing the anode rod, and testing the valves and thermostat for optimal functionality. It’s always a good idea to have a licensed plumber do this service for you as they will not only have the knowledge but also the right tools to perform the job.

Flushing the Unit

One of the most important maintenance steps is to flush out the water heater. This process helps to remove any debris, like mineral sediments, that back up inside your tank. If left unchecked, these deposits will cause internal corrosion of your water heater tank and greatly shorten its overall life span.

Inspecting for Leaks and Corrosion

When water comes into contact with metal, it will eventually lead to rust. Another necessary maintenance task is to inspect the water heater’s components for any visible corrosion. Paying particular attention to connections as well as the bottom of the tank can be helpful. Additionally, it’s good practice to check for any leakage at the bottom of the tank or near any of its water connections.

Replace the Anode Rod

Inside each tank water heater is an anode rod that’s responsible for attracting excess sediments. The idea is that the sediments will rust out and deteriorate the anode rod instead of the inside of the water heater’s tank. It’s best to check the overall state of the anode rod to see if it needs to be replaced. Typically, replacement every three to five years is necessary for most homeowners.

Testing Valves and Thermostats

Most tank water heaters will have two thermostats, one at each heating element. A professional plumber will be able to test the thermostat to ensure it’s working and is calibrated correctly. Additionally, they’ll test the valves on your water heater to ensure they’re working freely. Most important is the pressure relief valve that’s responsible for opening and releasing excess pressure from the inside of the storage tank. This prevents the tank from having too much pressure built up inside it because excess pressure could lead to an explosion in extreme cases.

The Top Benefits of Professional Water Heater Maintenance Service

Getting annual water heater service is a great way to help extend the overall longevity of your water heater. By removing excess sediment buildup and testing necessary components, you can ensure your water heater will operate for a long time. Professional maintenance is also ideal for enhancing the efficiency of your water heater by removing excess sediments that can slow down the heating process.

Another benefit of professional water heater service is that it works to detect potential problems with your water heater. For example, there may be a dripping leak at one of the water supply lines. By catching this problem while it’s small, you can prevent a bigger and costlier issue from developing. Furthermore, most plumbers can give you an estimated remaining life span for your unit so you can adequately plan for when a replacement will be necessary.

A Note for Homeowners With Hard Water

If you’re one of the many homeowners who regularly deal with hard water, it’s important to understand how it affects your water heater. Hard water can shorten its life span and lead to system inefficiency. Water heaters that use hard water will need more regular flushing services, such as every three to six months, to remove excess sediment buildup. Consider investing in a water softener system to treat your water supply before it gets to your hot water heater.

Expert Water Heater Maintenance Service

Raymark Plumbing & Sewer offers expert water heater maintenance service to the Seattle, WA community. We can also assist with all your drain, sewer, leak detection, plumbing repair, repiping, water line, gas line, faucet, garbage disposal, toilet, and sump pump needs. Simply call our staff today to book your next plumbing service appointment.

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