You depend heavily on your water heater. You know it was up for the challenge when first installed, but is it still ready to keep the hot water flowing? It’s easy to forget about this home appliance because you don’t see it regularly. You need to schedule maintenance to ensure it receives the attention it needs to deliver a strong performance from one shower to the next.
While some hot water maintenance steps are best left to trained professionals, there are others you can tackle as a homeowner. These maintenance tips will help you pick up on early signs of hot water trouble.
Routine Visual Checks
Every two to three months, walk around your water heater to identify any potential problems. Follow these steps:
- Move anything sitting close to the water heater, especially anything flammable.
- Check the surrounding area for water, which can indicate a leak.
- Check for any sign of rust or corrosion that could impact the heater’s functionality.
- Make sure gaskets and connects are tight.
- Make sure nothing looks or smells abnormal in general.
Water heaters are sometimes hot to the touch. Use caution when touching even the outside surfaces during a visual inspection.
Check the Temperature Setting
The temperature setting for your water heater can impact your energy bill and the maximum heat of water delivered to your home. The higher the setting, the hotter your water. The lower the setting, the less impact on your energy bill.
The most common setting for water heaters is between 120°F and 140°F. Going below this range may allow bacteria to grow in your water. Going higher could lead to scalding.
If you don’t believe the water is staying within range of your setting, contact a professional plumber to troubleshoot and correct the problem.
Add Pipe Insulation
If you don’t already have the pipes insulated, now is the time to perform that simple maintenance task. Use peel-and-stick pipe insulation to cover as much of the hot and cold pipes as possible. Other components you can insulate if desired include:
- TPR valve
- Temperature control
- Tank sides
While you can insulate the top of an electric water heater, don’t cover the top if you have a gas or oil water heater. Ask a trained plumber to do the insulation for you if you feel uncomfortable or don’t know what materials to use directly on the water heater.
Ready to Call the Professionals?
You can count on Royal Services Plumbing for comprehensive water heater services in Brighton, CO. Our well-trained, experienced plumbers are on hand for fast water heater repairs and professional installations. We can also provide maintenance checks if you want to make sure your water heater is in great working order.