The water heater is one of the unsung heroes of your Atlanta, GA household, doing its job quietly and without fuss year in and year out. But because it’s often tucked away in corners of your house like the basement or garage, and because you rarely think about it until there’s a problem, bad things can sometimes sneak up on you. Repair calls on water heaters can be very expensive, especially when the issue is the tank itself. More often than not, you need to replace the whole thing rather than engage in repairs. You can help prevent that by performing some basic maintenance to keep your water heater in top shape. Here’s a quick breakdown on ways to do it.
Drain and Refill Your Water Heater
Sediment can build up on the bottom of your water heater tank over time, forming a barrier between the heat source and the water it’s trying to warm. That can severely damage the sides of the tank, as well as raising the costs of adequately heating your water. You can avoid that by draining and refilling the tank every three months or so. Turn off the water supply to the tank and connect a hose to the drain valve, then drain the existing water into a bucket until you see no more sediment in the water.
Change the Anode Rod
The anode rod sits in the middle of your tank and prevents the sides of your tank from becoming rusty. It will wear out after two or three years, at which point the sides of your tank may rust. If you ever spot the core wire in your anode rod, make sure you replace it immediately
Call Quick Action Plumbers to set up a maintenance schedule and let us take care of your water heater for you!
The water heater is one of the unsung heroes of your Atlanta, GA household, doing its job quietly and without fuss year in and year out. But because it’s often tucked away in corners of your house like the basement or garage, and because you rarely think about it until there’s a problem, bad things can sometimes sneak up on you. Repair calls on water heaters can be very expensive, especially when the issue is the tank itself. More often than not, you need to replace the whole thing rather than engage in repairs. You can help prevent that by performing some basic maintenance to keep your water heater in top shape. Here’s a quick breakdown on ways to do it.
Drain and Refill Your Water Heater
Sediment can build up on the bottom of your water heater tank over time, forming a barrier between the heat source and the water it’s trying to warm. That can severely damage the sides of the tank, as well as raising the costs of adequately heating your water. You can avoid that by draining and refilling the tank every three months or so. Turn off the water supply to the tank and connect a hose to the drain valve, then drain the existing water into a bucket until you see no more sediment in the water.
Change the Anode Rod
The anode rod sits in the middle of your tank and prevents the sides of your tank from becoming rusty. It will wear out after two or three years, at which point the sides of your tank may rust. If you ever spot the core wire in your anode rod, make sure you replace it immediately
Call Quick Action Plumbers to set up a maintenance schedule and let us take care of your water heater for you!