A common topic of discussion here on our plumbing blog is anything related to maintenance. When it comes to repairs around the house, I think most people would agree that they would like to minimize them as much as possible. Keep in mind that if you choose to embark on a project like a bathroom remodel or anything designed to primarily modernize the space, that could easily be in a category of its own, away from necessary repairs. With that being the case, the next question would be: what are the best ways to ensure you’re able to limit how many repairs are needed and in particular, how can you make this happen when it comes to your plumbing system?
Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we understand how important it is to get a reliable return on your investment for anything related to your plumbing system. Considering the water heater is a significant component of one’s plumbing system, we’ll focus on it with this week’s blog post. In order to get the expected lifespan out of your water heater, you’ll want to stay up-to-date on the necessary maintenance practices. In the blog post here, we’ll discuss a few tips for preventive maintenance on a water heater!
Experiencing issues with your home’s water heater? Our team of trained technicians possess years of experience with water heater repair, water heater installation and even preventive maintenance on a water heater. To request a free estimate on an upcoming project, feel free to give us a call at (816) 348-3481 or fill out the form HERE.
Preventive Maintenance on a Water Heater Task #1: Have you ever flushed your water heater?
Our first task for preventive maintenance on a water heater is going to be an important one! If you’ve read any of our prior water heater-related blog posts, you’ve likely seen us mention the importance of water heater flushing at one time or another. Water heater flushing essentially will help ensure you get the maximum number of years out of your heater. Furthermore, considering having a new water heater installed can be a decent-sized investment, you probably want to do anything possible to keep it from failing earlier than expected. So…now that you know it’s a worthwhile maintenance task, what does the flush actually do?
Truth be told, the answer to that question is actually fairly straightforward. Over time, your water heater can experience mineral build-up at the bottom of the tank. This will make it much more difficult for the water heater to perform its normal responsibilities and in turn, lead to the water heater breaking down quicker. Long story short, it’s well worth it to ensure your water heater continues to function at an optimal level and isn’t negatively affected by mineral build-up!
How often should you flush your water heater? Well…there’s a few different variables that could factor into the answer there, including the water hardness levels. With that in mind, the exact timetable can vary based on the scenario, but flushing it once a year would be a good baseline number to work off of.
Preventive Maintenance on a Water Heater Task #2: Do you have a thermal expansion tank?
Preventive maintenance task number two? Making sure you have an expansion tank and that there are no issues with it. An expansion tank is definitely a necessary component for tank water heaters. The reason for this simply comes down to the process of thermal expansion. When water experiences a change in temperature, the volume of it can change as well. In terms of the water heating process, as the water is heated, it then expands in volume. With a water heater tank being a confined space, this excess volume/pressure will eventually need somewhere to go. That’s where an expansion tank comes into play, as it can take on this extra pressure to avoid it from being placed solely on the heater itself. To sum it up, the expansion tank is a great safety component to keep everything running smoothly.
After walking through the process of thermal expansion, can you see now why it’s so important to have one installed with your water heater? Likewise, as with anything else in your plumbing system, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on it from time-to-time. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, including a leak, you’ll want to get a plumbing professional out to take a look! By the way, keep in mind that expansion tanks can even fail from wear and tear or if they weren’t installed correctly.
Preventive Maintenance on a Water Heater Task #3: When was the last time you inspected your water heater?
Unsurprisingly, it’s easy to forget about your plumbing system when everything is working correctly. You expect there to be hot water when you turn on the shower or a faucet. You expect the sewer lines to be functioning properly and transporting all of your waste out of the house. You expect water lines to be capable of bringing in new water to the house and supplying the various fixtures with water. And in the majority of cases, everything works correctly! However, just as we mentioned that your plumbing system isn’t always on the top of your mind, there are also components of it that you don’t put eyes on very often either. The water heater is one example of that!
Given that an unfinished part of the basement is typically a popular home for a water heater, it’s not something that you’ll see as often as other frequently-used components like faucets! In order to avoid allowing a water heater issue to sit for an extended time period, you’ll want to make sure to take a look at it from time-to-time. We mentioned this above with the expansion tank specifically, but the same methodology can apply to the rest of the water heater too. This is the perfect time to be on the lookout for any water leaks or dripping water, which should instantly cause you to call in a local plumbing professional. At the same time, make sure it’s not making any strange noises, which would also signal that something isn’t right.
In addition, by performing these routine inspections, you’ll also be more likely to remember other maintenance items, like turning on the vacation mode setting prior to leaving town. Not to mention, if your water heater is over 12 years old, it would probably also be a good idea to keep a closer eye on it since the average lifespan of a tank water heater is roughly 12-15 years!
Preventive Maintenance on a Water Heater
Do you feel more confident in keeping your water heater properly running? With the water heater serving such an important role AND not being something that you want to find yourself replacing more often than necessary, preventive maintenance is always going to be worth the time needed to complete it! We’ve highlighted a few things that you’ll want to put on your to-do list, including the value of simply getting eyes on the heater on a regular basis. Just looking for anything out of the ordinary can help in catching issues quicker! After all, considering they’re usually installed in an unfinished part of the basement, water heaters likely aren’t something you think of very regularly!
Need a plumbing company to handle your next water heater project? You’re always welcome to give us a call at (816) 348-3481 and we’ll get you taken care of! Water heaters are something we work with on a regular basis and we’re happy to help with any water heater project that you may have!