Water Heater Tips For
Your Home
Very often, tank failure and leaks are due to
rusting. However, proper installation, maintenance and adjustment
will keep your water heater rust-free and operating at peak
efficiency. Follow these steps to ensure a healthy water heater in
your Kansas City home:
-
Check that your tank's anode rod has
sufficient sacrificial metal remaining on its steel wire core.
Replace it when necessary.
-
If you have copper or brass water heater
connections (hot, cold and recirculation loop lines), change them
over to dielectric unions and plastic lined steel nipples. This will
reduce this electrolytic corrosion.
-
Make sure the bottom of your tank is
sediment-free. When sediment accumulates in a gas heater, it forms a
barrier between the water and the flame, slowing heat transfer. It
also weakens the steel tank bottom and exposes it to water and to
potential rusting.
-
Check that your tank's surroundings aren't
harmful to the tank (avoid salt, chlorine, or other corrosive
chemicals).
-
Keep your heater as dry as possible. Make sure
plumbing fittings are in good condition (such as the drain valve,
heating elements, and hot and cold connections).
-
Consider your tank's age before getting maintenance
performed. A newer heater will have a sufficient anode rod, but an older
heater may need a new anode. Also check for a damaged dip tube and for
recalcitrant drains on an older unit.
If you are looking for a Kansas City plumber for water
heater repair or replacement please call us today at 913.724.3950 or complete
our
service request form. |
