How to perform the inspection and maintenance of the water heater
During the cold winter months, your home water heater is an extremely important appliance if you want to stay comfortable. When a water heater is working properly, it will allow you to take a hot shower. Also, it will allow you to wash your clothes when needed. However, water heaters are prone to malfunctions if not regularly maintained, which could leave you without hot water.
Taking a cold shower on a cold day isn’t something you’re likely to like. To keep the water heater in good condition, it is necessary to regularly perform the inspection and maintenance of the water heater on the system. Proper maintenance and inspection of the water tank will extend the life of the unit and ensure that this meets the needs of the water heater.
How to conduct the inspection and maintenance of the water heater?
If you want to make sure that your water heater continues to work properly and efficiently, the first thing you need to do is to focus on inspecting the water heater tank. After conducting a thorough inspection, you can perform maintenance on the system and have it repaired if necessary.
There are a number of signs that indicate a bigger problem with the water heater. For example, if the water coming out of your taps is much colder or much warmer than it should be, this is a sign that the water heater is not working as it should.
Look for signs of leaks
When you take a look at the actual water heater tank, look around for any signs that the tank has started leaking. If a leak has occurred, you will notice the formation of puddles or drips around the unit. While inspecting the tank, look for any accumulation of rust or cracks on the system casing.
These problems could be problematic. If you leave them unattended and could indicate the need for a heater replacement, which is something that a plumber should determine so you don’t pay a large sum of money for a replacement when it’s not needed.
Gas heaters require special care
If the water heater is gas powered instead of electric, inspect the burner flame and make a note of its appearance. When the water heater is working properly, the burner flame will be mostly blue. If the flame has turned a much brighter orange or yellow instead, this is a sign that the heater is not working efficiently.
A host of underlying issues could cause this problem, which is why a professional plumber should check it to avoid making a costly mistake.
How to perform maintenance on the water tank?
After conducting a thorough inspection of the water heater, it may be necessary to perform maintenance on the system. Everyone shouuld perform these maintenance checks approximately every six months. The best way to perform any necessary maintenance is to do it immediately after inspecting the water heater. This will allow you to keep the most pressing concerns in mind.
If your system has started leaking, the problem may be beyond your experience plumbing problems to solve, which is when you should seriously consider contacting a professional plumber like the ones we collaborate with to solve the problem.
Do it yourself
However, there are a number of simple maintenance tips you can follow before calling a professional plumber. The first step to take during system maintenance is to check the main pressure valve. Do this, to make sure it is working properly or not. To do this, be sure to turn off the water heater and trip the pressure valve.
When you do this, it should release some form of vapor, air or water from the system. If this doesn’t happen as it should, the pressure valve is likely not working and you need to replace it with a new one, which a plumber can handle.
Tank washing
You should also rinse the water tank to release the accumulated sediments. Since you must disconnect both the power supply and the water from the water heater when performing this operation. The technicians highly recommend to do so while checking the pressure valve. To properly rinse the tank, place a hose on the drain valve. Once you fix the tube, take the other end. Then place it in an area where you can eliminate the hot water without problems.
While the pressure valve is fully open, it is necessary to overturn the drain valve so that the water can be released from the tank. Before turning on the water heater, connect the water to the water heater again. Then open the taps until the water starts coming out of them. After that, it is safe to turn the heater back on.
Auction maintenance
The last type of water tank maintenance that you can performe is to look at the anode rod. If you want your water heater to remain in good condition for as long as possible, it is essential that the anode rod inside is also in good condition. This bar is a type of tool designed to help prevent the development of corrosion inside the water heater tank. When you have completely emptied, remove the hex bolt. It is positioned towards the top of the tank in order to better see the rod.
Extract the rod and perform a visual inspection. If the shaft has become covered with a large amount of dirt and other sediments, it will probably you need to replace it completely. The same is true if the rod has become very thin. Although the anode rods are designed to last 5 to 10 years. You should inspect and maintain them annually to ensure they remain in good condition.
Should you call a professional? – H24 Stoke-on-Trent Hydraulic Intervention
If you have found that your water heater has stopped sending hot water to the taps, call the professional plumber immediately so we can provide you with a timely solution.