UPDATED 1/22/21
With fall officially here and winter on the way, your the lifespan of your water heater has never been so important. You may be able to put your water heater’s maintenance on the back burner during the summer. But before the flurries start to fall, you’ll want a guarantee that your water heater is in the best shape possible.
Average water heaters will last a homeowner anywhere between eight to 12 years. The older your water heater, the more likely you’re to experience an eventual decrease in efficiency due to sediment buildups or leaks without proper care.
Here are a few ways you can help to improve the lifespan of your water heaters to help keep you warm all winter long and for many more snowy seasons to come.
Flush out your tank
It’s typically recommended to flush out your water heater once a year at the very least. This helps to prevent sediment buildup in your tank, especially for older tanks. It also helps to keep the efficiency of your tank at its highest.
Flushing your tank can be done simply by hooking up your backyard hose to the tank and letting the water drain off into the street gutter. If you don’t feel comfortable draining the tank yourself, contact your water heater repair service to let the professionals handle it.
Consider using water softeners
Many houses in the U.S. have hard water in their water heaters. Hard water is when the mineral content in is high, causing deposits to accumulate on the inside of your heater.
This can have a big impact on your water heater’s lifespan and can make your heater work far harder than it needs to. To reduce wear and tear on your plumbing system after you’ve had the area looked at by a water heater repair service or plumber, consider using water softeners to reduce the amount of mineral deposits.
Use a second anode rod
Anode rods are the sacrificial lambs of your water heater. Because water heaters are made up of stainless steel, the water can cause the metal to corrode over time. To expand the life of the water heater, an anode rod is deposited into the heater as the focus of the water heater’s corrosion.
This rod is made up of either aluminum or magnesium and can last a long period of time. However, if the rod breaks down prematurely it can result in damage to your water heater. Therefore, placing a second anode rod into the system or having a professional do it during your water heater installation will help keep your water heater up and running longer.
Your water heater is your main source of heat during the winter months. To ensure your heater is up and running at its best efficiency, be sure to have routine maintenance performed every year, especially before the winter season.
Water heaters play an important role in daily lives. Makes it necessary to make sure that it is in good shape, especially during the winter period. Water heaters last up to eight years before experiencing inefficiency.
Plumbing
Plumbing system, collect and distribute water to various destinations. A safe water supply has its risks that include contaminations and thermal shock.
Plumbers are the right people for the job when it is dealing with water heaters.
How to choose a hot water heater
Here is what one should consider when choosing the type of water heaters:
- The fuel type used and it’s cost and availability
- The size of the heater according to your home size
- Energy efficiency
- Costs of buying and installation
Is it hard to install a water heater?
Installing or replacing a water heater is not difficult. Though one can call a professional to do it. Here is a list of the steps to do it:
- Put off the water and gas
- Drain all the water in the tank
- Water lines cut off
- Attach relief valve
- Attach pipe assemblies, water line, and vent
- Backdrafting and leaks
- Put on the pilot light using a lighter
Kinds of water heaters
There are four main types of water heaters that include:
- Tankless water heaters
- Heat pump water heaters
- Solar-powered water heaters
- Condensing water heaters
Large water heater tank
The largest tank available on the market is the Westinghouse has a capacity of sixty gallons of water. It has multiple vents and electronically controlled. Made from stainless steel hence can regulate high temperatures.