Your water heater is one that is used and costly appliances in your home, and consumes a large involving your energy dollars each month. And experts say regular care and maintenance is essential to protecting your investment and saving on your home heating and energy costs.
Regular flushing of your water heater is probably the single most important step you can take to prolong its service life in addition, it save energy. During time, sediments strengthen in the bottom of your water heater. These sediments act as a barrier between the flame and the tank, thereby making your heater burn longer and hotter. Partly destructive to the tank, but highly inefficient and will significantly raise your heating costs.
In most involving the country, the average water heater lasts 3-5 years. Regularly flushing your water heater can double the life of your hot water heater from 3-5 to 7-10 years. To provide a source costs of replacement running from $700 to over $1200 in some cases, getting the most out of your heater is vital in today’s weather. In addition, regular flushing makes your water heater run more efficiently and can cut heating costs fifty percent. Depending on the volume of warm water your home uses, that can mean a savings of $20 to over $50 a week.
To drain your water heater, first you should set the thermostat to pilot (if it can be a gas water heater) or turn the circuit breaker off (if it is electric heater). Failure to do so could result in overheating and severe damage to the water heater. Next, close the water supply valve located on the water inlet line going into your water heater. Then you’re connect a hose to the drain valve located at the bottom of the heater tank. Open the drain and allow it to function until all of the water has emptied from the unit. Then close the drain. Open the water supply valve and refill the heater. You should also open a hot water faucet somewhere at home and stand there and watch it run for several minutes until the flows out perfectly. This will allow air to vent from the heater and the hot water lines. Finally, you can turn the thermostat back to its regular setting (for a gas heater), or turn the circuit breakers back on (for an electric heater).
Besides regularly flushing your water heater, plumbing experts also advise adding a water treatment system to your dwelling to filter or condition the water so may be less corrosive to your plumbing system, particularly in areas possess hard water. For more ways to care for and protect your home plumbing system, contact a licensed, professional plumbing contractor in location to discuss options and merchandise to provide what you need.
Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical
The Woodlands, TX
(281) 528-1610