It is recommended that you inspect your water heater twice a year, however if
you live in an areas that has hard water, then it may be necessary to inspect
you water heater as frequently as once a month to ensure that it is functioning
properly.
The hot water heater is a major appliance in any home and accounts for over
20% of the energy consumed in a home. Many times when a new unit is installed in
a home, the thermostat has been preset for a higher temperature than what is
required. You can help save money and reduce your energy consumption by lowering
the thermostat to 120 degrees.
It is recommended that you inspect your water heater twice a year, however if
you live in an areas that has hard water, then it may be necessary to inspect
you water heater as frequently as once a month to ensure that it is functioning
properly. One way to help reduce that amount scale that can build up as a result
of hard water is to drain the water from the storage tank, routinely as part of
your maintenance. This will help reduce the amount of scale buildup, which cause
the system to consume more fuel. Insulating your water heater will also increase
the volume of hot water in the unit, however it is vital that you ensure that
there are not leaks or cracks in the unite, before insulating your system. If
you do discover any cracks or leaks these must be repaired before adding
insulation.
If your water heater has some age on it, then you should be aware of several
warning signs that your system has impending problems. The first and most
obvious is the complete lack of hot water. Other signs are not having enough hot
water or the inability of your system to heat the water properly, this can
include over heating the water. If you notice any visible leaks or hear obvious
noises, which are not common or begin to smell a foul odor, which originates
from your water-heating system then your system may have impending problems.
Often you will notice these problems when you wash, bathe, do the dishes, or any
time you use water. When you begin noticing these problems, chances are they are
an indication that your water heater requires maintenance. In most cases, the
sooner your address the problem, the least amount of damage will be caused to
your system.
If you are uncomfortable performing the required maintenance or repairs, then
you can hire a maintenance professional to do the work for you. It is always
better to fix the small problems as soon as possible to prevent them from
becoming large and expensive problems later. Therefore, a little preventive
maintenance twice a year will prevent you from waking up one morning and
discovering that you don’t have any hot water. Of course, there are those who
enjoy cold showers. It is very important to have a hot water heater inspected
several times each year to ensure that your hot water heater is working properly
and that you catch any leaks before they worsen.
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