People use hot water systems daily except during hot summers. As such, you should give them a tune-up to keep them efficient and extend their lifespan. The following tips should give you an idea of how to maintain your water heater system.
Schedule a Yearly Inspection
Annual inspections are needed to identify problems with your water heater. Sadly, most homeowners skip these inspections, meaning they can go for years without knowing their water heaters have a problem. Yearly inspections should help the maintenance technician spot and rectify problems early. Besides, the technician will tune up various parts to boost the system's efficiency.
Adjust the Temperatures
Your temperature settings could affect your water heater's life. As such, you must ensure the temperatures remain below 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideally, the temperatures should be at least 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Lowering the temperatures by a few degrees should help prolong your water heater's life and save energy.
Flush the Tank Annually
Do you know that your hot water tank has plenty of sediments at the bottom? That's why you have been hearing rumbling noises whenever you switch on the heater. These sediments are bound to build up in the tank due to hard water. However, you wouldn't want the mineral deposits to lurk in your tank for years.
That said, you should get the sediments flushed yearly. Doing so will eliminate the noise and reduce the chance of your water heater sustaining damage.
Replace the Anode Rod
The sacrificial anode rod prevents your hot water tank from corrosion. Therefore, you must check whether the sacrificial anode rod is in good condition every year. In most cases, the rod will be eroded after a few years. And when that happens, your tank will start rusting. Therefore, you must hire a technician to replace the anode rod every few years. This way, you'll have extended the life of your water heater system.
Test the Pressure Relief Valve (PRV)
Homeowners often forget about the pressure relief valve, yet it plays a crucial role in releasing pressure from the hot water tank. Therefore, you must test the PRV often to ensure it's working correctly. Testing the pressure relief valve is easy; you just need to lift the lever. If it's in good condition, it will release some water.
If it doesn't, call a water system maintenance professional to replace the valve before a disaster happens. Remember that excess pressure build-up can cause the tank to explode or crack.