Preventive Upkeep Can Extend Your Water Heater’s Useful Life… Check Yours Today!
Your water heater is in all probability the most crucial portion of your houses plumbing program. A appropriately maintained heater can final from ten to fifteen years or extra. But, a heater not correctly maintained can fail in 4 to six years. The situation of the drinking water in your area and the location of the heater in your house are out of your handle, but appropriate maintenance of the heater and your plumbing technique is crucial to heater longevity and security.
This article offers you a list of things to verify for each tank sort and tankless water heaters. As you go by means of the methods in checking your heater, if you have the slightest doubt in your capability, get a specialist, licensed plumber involved! You are dealing with hot water, organic gas, and electrical energy!
Tank Kind Water Heater Maintenance:
Vent (Gas Water Heaters Only)
The vent ought to be the very same diameter as the draft diverter on the heater tank.
The vent should really go generally “up and out” the ceiling.
Exactly where is passes via the exterior wall, the vent should really be double-walled.
Vent sections ought to be screwed with each other with a minimum 3 screws per section.
Note: Terrible vent pipe connections can fall apart and lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, the silent and deadly gas!
Temperature & Stress Relief Valve (T&P Valve)The T&P valve is designed to stop the heater from exploding if the water pressure or temperature exceeds safe limits.
Pull up the manage on the valve and water should flow out and cease when you let go of the deal with.
The T&P valve has a drain line that need to go down to about six” from the floor or be plumbed outdoors your house.
Note: Water leaking out of a T&P drain line can signal a poor T&P valve, higher water stress, or a malfunctioning thermal expansion device.
Water Pressure (All Water Heaters)
Water stress over 80 pounds per square inch (psi) can damage heaters and your piping. Riverside water heater installation can also damage plumbing appliances, toilets, and your fixtures.
Note: One particular giveaway that your have higher water stress is when the T&P Valve on the heater starts opening and closing.
Outer Water Heater Metal Shell & Plumbing Fittings
Inspect the heater outer sheet metal shell for leaks or rusting.
Inspect the plumbing fittings on the heater for corrosion, rust, or water spotting.
Note: Rusty fittings or discolored shell is a telltale sign that a leak is present!
Temperature Manage
Inspect the heater temperature control dial to insure its set at the right water temperature.
The perfect water temperature is 120° Fahrenheit.
Note: Anything above 120° Fahrenheit greatly increases scalding threat, power use, and sediment create-up in the bottom of the heater!
Combustion Chamber (Gas Water Heaters)
Turn the gas valve handle to “pilot position”.
Remove the outer access hatch or cover on the side of the heater.
Inspect the roof of the chamber for heavy rusting, water marking, or pitting.
Return the gas valve control back to the “on position”.
Note: Black soot in the combustion chamber indicates drafting complications, combustion difficulties, fume troubles, and a fire hazard!
Pedestal Base (Gas Water Heaters)
Make positive the pedestal base the heater rests on is stable and supports the unit.
The typical pedestal will maintain the bottom of the heater at least 18″ off the floor.
Note: A newer water heater may have a “filtered combustion chamber” that is supposed to resolve the want for a pedestal. Check the owner’s manual for your heater.
Drain Valve
Open the drain valve to insure that mineral sediment, anode sludge, or rust has not clogged your heaters drain.
Drain Overflow Pan
If your heater is on the 2nd floor above living space it should really have a drain pan.
The drain pan really should be plumbed to the outside of your dwelling.
Inspect the condition of the drain pan, fittings, and piping to the outdoors.
Corrosive Fumes (Gas Water Heaters & Tankless Water Heaters)
Water heaters draw air in for combustion and the excellent of the air is important.
Corrosive liquids, ammonia, or acids stored near a heater can lead to corrosive air.
Note: Corrosive air drawn into the burner can prematurely corrode the heater.
Internal Tank Corrosion and Rust-The internal tank of your heater is constructed of steel and glass lined to avoid rust. Sacrificial anode rods are installed in the tank to protect the glass lined internal steel tank from rust. Aluminum/Zinc or magnesium anode rods corrode over time and get made use of up by way of an electrolytic process.
Note: Replacing the anode rod can extend the life of the heater but, should really be performed by a trained, skilled service technician.
Sediment Create-up-Sediment is produced when difficult water is heated. The create-up of sediment in the bottom of the tank can bring about the bottom to overheat and melt away the glass lining of the tank. It can drift into recirculating lines, jam open verify valves, and trigger the recirculating pump to stick till it burns out. Sediment make-up on the bottom of gas water heaters encourages noisy operation. The noise is triggered by little amounts of water under the sediment layer turning into steam bubbles, which then collapse violently.
Note: Sediment create-up can decrease the power efficiency of the heater and void the warranty on some Residential Water Heaters!
Tankless Water Heater Upkeep:
Flushing-Most tankless water heater makers advise flushing the whole unit each and every 6 months to 1 year based upon the water quality. Reference your manufactures recommendation for flushing. Flushing the unit routinely removes any mineral deposits (ordinarily calcium or lime) that may well have constructed up inside the boilers. Manufacturers advise utilizing a utility pump to circulate 3 or four gallons of vinegar or one more low-grade acid for 45 minutes to clean out any deposits.
