Your water heater is one rather used and much more costly appliances in your home, and consumes a large associated with 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 one’s water heater has become single most important step you can take to prolong its service life and to save energy. For time, sediments mount up 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. In part destructive to the tank, but highly inefficient and will significantly raise your heating costs.
In most regions of the country, the standard water heater lasts 3-5 years. Regularly flushing your water heater can double the life of your water heater from 3-5 to 7-10 years. And with the costs of replacement running from $700 to over $1200 in some cases, getting the most from your heater is vital in today’s markets. 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 fair amount of time.
To drain your water heater, first you should set the thermostat to pilot (if it is a gas water heater) or turn the circuit breaker off (if it is actually electric heater). Failure to do so could result in overheating and severe damage to the heater. Next, close the water supply valve located in the water inlet line going into your water heater. After backing up connect a garden hose to the drain valve located in the bottoom of the hot water heater. Open the drain and allow it to move until all on the water has emptied from the air conditioner. Then close the drain. Open the water supply valve and refill the hot water heater. You should also open a hot water faucet somewhere inside the house and stand there and watch it run for several minutes until the flows out smoothly. This will allow air to vent inside heater and the 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 less corrosive to your plumbing system, particularly in areas which have hard hot water. For more ways to care for and protect your home plumbing system, contact a licensed, professional plumbing contractor in your area to discuss options and merchandise to fit the bill.
Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical
The Woodlands, TX
(281) 528-1610