Water Heater Maintenance

Recently, we’ve given you some advice on furnace maintenance. But your furnace doesn’t heat your home alone. When it comes to baths, showers, and washing dishes your water heater is the hero of your house, and it could use a little attention too. Given that it accounts for about 20% of your utility bill, maintaining your water heater is a good investment.

Have it professionally maintained

We want to give you tips to keep your water heater well maintained and save money by helping it run more efficiently, especially if you are trying to extend the life of an older unit. But there are some things on a water heater that are best maintained by a professional. A faulty pressure valve, for instance, can result in a water heater exploding. Cleaning sediment out of your hot water heater without properly turning your unit off can cause significant damage. To avoid any large mishaps, always start with annual professional maintenance. We’re coming to check your furnace anyway, right?

Check the temperature

Your water heater should have a temperature dial (it may be behind a cover that you need to access with screws), but it’s usually easily accessible on the side of the tank. There is a reason that manufacturer’s set the default temperature at 60 degrees Celsius. Keep it set at a lower temperature, and you can have bacteria growing in your tank that can make you sick. Keep it at a higher temperature and you’re wasting energy. Make sure the temperature gauge stays at 60 C (140 F) to properly maintain your tank.

Add insulation

Modern water heaters are insulated well and experience minimal heat loss through their insulated walls. However, if you have an older unit, a fiberglass jacket might help you with heat loss. In addition, insulating the first few feet of the pipes can be an area of significant energy loss. You can buy self-sticking 3/8-inch-thick foam pipe insulation that matches the pipes' diameter and use that to provide a few feet of extra insulation. Typically, there is no need to do more than these first few feet, as hot water is not stored in the pipes. If the pipes run close to the flue (six inches or closer), 1-inch-thick unfaced fiberglass pipe wrap is a better option.

Install a water heater filter

Over time, minerals and particulates in the water can settle as sediment in your water heater, reducing its life span and efficiency. Although there are a lot of how-tos available that tell you to drain your water to remove this sediment, doing this wrong can cause damage to your unit or even cause a flood. A better solution (along with annual professional maintenance) is installing a filter. Whether tankless or with a tank, a water heater will be able to do its job more effectively and for longer with the help of a filter. Once you have a good filter installed, you’ll have to check your cartridge every six months to determine when it needs to be changed.

Your water heater is an important member of a functioning household and should be given the attention it deserves. The better you take care of it, the less likely you’ll find yourself in a cold shower.