Water Heaters: How To Keep Them Running Longer

Water heaters aren’t necessarily meant to last forever, but they should certainly last a long time. If you don’t care for them, however, you may not get the performance you desire after a few years. Over time, the performance could shrink to the point where you have to shell out for costly repairs or replacement when you could have saved yourself some money by applying some simple maintenance techniques. No one wants to be without hot water, so here are some of the practices you should put in place to make sure you don’t have to go without.

The most obvious aspect of maintaining water heaters is simply to keep up a habit of inspection. Note the floor around the device and take a close look at the outside of the machine itself. If you see any leaks, have them taken care of immediately, before a small problem has a chance to turn into a bigger one. Watch for telltale signs like the paint chipping away or a discoloration on the walls or the floor. 

Many experts advise keeping water heaters at a more reasonable setting than many homeowners prefer. This can help keep energy costs down as well as improve the lifespan of the appliance. Check the temperature gauge on the side of the device. There should be a small knob you can turn right and left to choose your temperature setting. Dial it down to 115 degrees and see if you don’t notice an immediate improvement in your monthly electric bill. This should provide you with water that is plenty hot for most uses, while not overheating the water excessively.

Finally, water heaters will collect dirt and sediment from the water over time. This is only natural, but if you don’t get rid of it once in a while, it can take a toll on the efficiency of the machine. Thankfully, most machines are easily flushed so taking care of the sediment is not a difficult task. Once a year or so, do a mini-flush by releasing the drain valve and allowing the water to flow into a bucket. Take out a few gallons and you’re good to go for another year or so. It should be noted that every so often your water heater may benefit from a full flush, which is usually better performed by a professional.

These tips can help your machine work well for years to come. If you have problems in the meantime, call around and find some good professional repairmen to come out and diagnose the issue.