If you have recently had a new hot water heating installed in your home, you will want to make sure that it has the longest possible life span. After all, no one wants to face a situation in which they cannot have a bath or shower. The best way to improve the reliability of your water heater is to carry out some regular maintenance tasks. Below is a guide to 2 things you can do to extend the life of your home's water heater:
Check the temperature and pressure valve
Because hot water produces steam, every water heater is fitted with a temperature and pressure valve. This value is normally located in the top half of the water tank. As the water temperature increases inside the tank, this valve opens and releases the pressure. If your temperature and pressure value fails or malfunctions, this could result in the tank rupturing. A ruptured tank is highly dangerous as it could cause boiling water to spray into your home. To avoid problems, you should occasionally check the temperature and pressure value. With the hot water system turned on, you should observe the value in operation. If the value is letting out a constant stream of steam, this suggests that the water temperature is too high and should be turned down. If this does not fix the problem, this is a sign that the valve has failed and needs replacing.
Check and replace the anode rod
An anode rod is a piece of metal which is designed to corrode. This corrosion protects the exposed metal tank of the water heater from rust damage. Obviously, because they are designed to corrode, anode rods do not last forever. If you let the anode rod wear away completely, the metal inside the hot water tank will be at risk of damage. To prevent this, you should periodically check the anode to see how corroded it is. To do this, you simply need to unscrew the anode and lift it out of the tank. If you do not feel confident doing this, you should call in a plumber who will carry out the inspection for you. If you find that the anode rod is very thin, you should have it replaced with a fresh one.
If you would like further advice about how best to care for your hot water system, you should speak with the plumber during the hot water installation process.
