Your water heater is a staple appliance in your home. Without it, dishes can’t be washed, showers can’t be taken, and your life becomes very difficult very quickly. That’s why your water heater deserves your attention and a little TLC from time to time! Just like your car, it’s a good idea for your water heater to be serviced every so often, but what is involved in one of these services? Why are they necessary? What are the warning signs you should be looking out for? To help you feel more confident about handling your water heater and its maintenance, here are some frequently asked questions that we get on the subject!
What Services Does a Water Heater Need?
Water heaters should go through a series of maintenance tasks from time to time in order to keep them working properly and prevent unnecessary wear and tear. The tank should be flushed to get rid of sediment buildup, and the anode rod should be checked and replaced if needed to keep corrosion at bay. The temperature and pressure valve should be tested to ensure it’s working properly and won’t reduce the heater’s efficiency or safety, and gas water heaters should have their ventilation inspected for safety as well.
How Often Should a Water Heater Be Serviced?
It’s the generally accepted guidance that a water heater should be serviced about once a year. The task that needs to be done most frequently is the flushing of the tank, and this should be an annual chore for most water heaters. Other tasks, like replacing the anode rod or repairing the temperature and pressure valve, might not need to be done every year, but for safety and longevity reasons they should be checked at least once a year anyway.
What Happens If You Don’t Service a Water Heater?
At the very least, if you aren’t servicing or maintaining your water heater on a regular basis, you’re putting the appliance through more wear and tear than it needs to undergo and shortening its lifespan. A water heater that never undergoes any maintenance will need replacing far sooner than one that does! At the worst, however, you could be signing up for some disastrous results by not giving your water heater the attention it needs. Water heaters can leak and cause major water damage, introduce bacteria into your water, cause burns or injuries, or in very severe cases, even explode, ruining your home and potentially causing grave injuries. Suffice it to say, servicing your water heater is something you don’t want to skip!
When Should a Water Heater Be Replaced?
Most water heaters can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years if they’re taken care of properly. At a certain point, like all equipment and appliances, they’ll reach a state where it’s more expensive to continue repairing them than it is to just get a new one, and that’s when it’s time for a replacement. Until that time, however, some simple regular maintenance can keep your water heater in great condition!
What are the Signs That a Water Heater Needs Repairs?
Servicing your water heater on a regular basis helps to prevent the need for repairs or emergency services, but you should still know the warning signs to look out for that your water heater is acting up. First and foremost, if you aren’t getting hot water when you run the taps hot, something is wrong! You should also keep a sharp eye out for leaks around the heater itself, inconsistent hot water or fluctuating temperatures, and discolored or bad-tasting or smelling hot water. These are all signs that repairs are in order. You should also check from time to time if the outside of your hot water tank is hot to the touch– with proper insulation, the outside should be warm but perfectly safe to touch. If it’s burning up, call a plumber! If you notice banging, clanking, popping, hissing, or rumbling sounds coming from your heater at any time, it’s also a sign of malfunctions in the heater.
With a regular yearly schedule of maintenance and a little help from expert plumbers like the team at Schuler Service, keeping your water heater working properly is a cinch! If your water heater is in need of a service soon, let us help you! Contact us today for more information.
