Sunday, July 21, 2013

Tips For Hot Water Heater Maintenance

By Brian Winters


Working with electric-powered or gas-fired units can be dangerous. That is why all repairs should be performed by a licensed and qualified expert technician. Doing it on your own increases the chance of violating building codes and local regulations.

Water heater is responsible for supplying hot water used for taking showers, cleaning dishes and washing clothes. Cold water is properly heated once it enters the tank, being exposed to the burner. After waiting for a couple of minutes, expect to have hot water running in your pipes continuously.

Hard water mineral deposits can form at the bottom of the tank if you don't flush and drain them regularly. You may notice them accumulating in a honeycomb fashion, resulting to poor water heater efficiency. Once the sediments get too heavy for the tank to handle, the volume of water that can be stored will eventually be limited.

Prepare your tank first before draining. Turn off the circuit breaker or gas valve supply to prevent accidents from happening while you work on your heater. Do not forget to shut down the water supply to stop water from entering the tank during the repair process. To avoid scalding your skin, wait for a couple of minutes until the water cools down. You can also turn the water heater the night before you drain it. Doing these steps should protect you from unfortunate fatal accidents.

Attach a hose to the drain valve and place the other end to a secure drainage. Let the water exit the tank by opening the drain valve until the tank is empty. Disconnect the hose and put a bucket below the drain valve. This will catch the sediments that will be flushed out from your tank. Open the water supply and wait until the water runs clear. You can turn the power on after refilling it.

If your hot water tap is releasing cold water, you might want to consider several factors that are causing the problem. If you have an electric-powered unit, reset the circuit breaker once it's tripped. If the problem continues, contact a specialist immediately.

You can also check the upper heating element of your water heater to check if it's receiving power. Use a multi-meter to check it and reset when needed. You may need to replace the thermostat if the cold water continues to flow in your hot water pipes. Do not forget to shut down your power and water connections before replacing it.

There are other water heater problems that you may encounter in the long run. Just remember that when the issue gets out of hand, call a specialist immediately. Performing repairs on your own without professional help can put your life at risk and worsen the situation. Prevent this from happening by calling a specialist as soon as the problem arises.




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