Do you care for and maintain your gas water heater? Remember this. Even if it’s a durable appliance, it doesn’t mean that you can just leave it installed right there without the occasional inspection and maintenance. If you neglect your gas water heater, you can expect a wide array of issues to arise in the future. Here are some tips and tricks when maintaining this valuable appliance!
1. Check your water heater’s T & P (Temperature and Pressure) Relief Valve. This is an important component of your water heater and is responsible for relieving the tank of excess pressure and temperature. You can check if it’s still working by first, turning off your heating unit. Get a bucket and put it under the pipe that’s hooked to the TPR valve. Carefully lift the valve’s tab to allow some water to escape. Afterward, let go. If water continuously flows out, you’ll have to drain the heater tank halfway. Remove the screw on the valve with the use of a pipe wrench and then replace it with a new one.
2. Another vital component of your heating system is its thermostat. Without it, the appliance won’t run properly. Locate the thermostat on the unit and remove its cover screw. Try to configure the setting and adjust the temp to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a flathead screwdriver for this task. Remember, you will save about 5 percent on your energy costs for every 10 degrees that your water heater’s temp is lowered.
3. Among the most common issues, that homeowner face when it comes to heating units is the inadequate amount of hot water. There are cases when the tank is undersized which is why the heater doesn’t provide enough hot water. There are also cases when the unit has to be insulated to resolve this problem. Insulate the tank with an efficient insulating blanket such as a foil-covered bubble wrap. Make sure that it will fit snuggly around the pipes or supply tubes, the thermostat, and the TPR valve. Guarantee that you’ll also cover the side of the tank and seal the ends with a reliable foil tape. Just don’t cover the top of the heating unit or the gas flue.
4. Another way to avoid hot water supply inadequacy is through the insulation of the supply pipes. As hot water travels through the pipes, its temperature goes down. To avoid getting cold water from your fixtures, insulate the pipes with foam. It should cover the cold and hot water pipes and then use a tape to seal the edges.
5. The anode rod also plays an important role in water heating. It is responsible for keeping the tank corrosion-free thus preventing the water from getting rusty. The rust eats away on the anode rod instead of the tank so check the rod once in a while. Make sure that it’s not completely rusty yet. If its coating is less than half an inch think or already coated with calcium, get a new one as a replacement.
6. Last but not the least, it is vital that you drain or flush your water heater tank regularly. If you live in an area where there are hard mineral deposits in the water, you’ll need to drain your tank more frequently. You see, as the heater warms your water, mineral deposits accumulate at the bottom of the tank. When they get too plenty, they’ll not only create loud thumping sounds but also affect the efficiency of your heating system.
We hope that you learned valuable tips about gas water heater maintenance through our blog today. If you are experiencing issues with your heating unit, just call the best Pinecrest plumbers for water heater services. Douglas Orr Plumbing provides reliable plumbing services in Pinecrest FL including hot water heater repair, plumbing appliance installation, toilet repair, leak detection, drain pipe unclogging and many more! Call us at (305) 240-6731to schedule a service!
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