Home maintenance is a must. If you let things go, you’ll end of replacing items more often, costing you hundreds or thousands of dollars more. Luckily, maintenance on some items is very easy, including water heaters. We usually don’t think about water heaters until there is no hot water but you should do a few things once a year to keep your water heater running efficiently, longer.
How to Maintain a Water Heater
Drain the Tank
The number one way to maintain a water heater is to drain the tank to flush out sediment at the bottom. Simply drain the water into a bucket using a garden hose on the drain valve. Stir up sediment in the bottom of your tank by opening the cold water supply valve for a few seconds, then drain. Do this several times until the water comes out clean.
Once down, refill the tank and turn the power back on. This should only take about 1/2 hour once a year – not a big job to maintain an expensive piece of equipment that you rely on every day!
Clear the Clutter
There should be 2 feet of clearance around your water heater for safety and performance reasons. If your heater has stuff all around, it can’t get enough oxygen that could lead to damage to the burner chamber and could even lead to carbon monoxide leaks. Storing items within 2 feet of the water heater can also be a fire hazard. Now is a good time to make sure nothing is within 2 feet of your heater. Don’t let things pile up around your water heater, tell your children too.
Examine Water Heater
Once a year, examine your water heater for corrosion or rust on pipes and valves, and look for any leaks. If you ever smell gas, turn off and contact a professional immediately.
Hire a Professional
For peace of mind, hire a professional. We had W.F. Hann & Sons install our Bradford White Water Heater earlier this year. They are a fanatic local company that serves NE Ohio and beyond. They offer a yearly maintenance program in which they will do all of the above and more for you.
We’ve been very pleased with our Bradford White Water Heater and want to keep it in tip top shape. It’s been excellent in providing hot water with no issues whatsoever. There are many reasons to choose a Bradford White water heater and their top of the line products that meet or beat industry standards. I love that they are made in the USA too!
