How to Maintain Your Hot Water Heater

Isn’t it amazing that you can have hot water at your disposal in a matter of seconds? That is, until your hot water heater breaks down and you’re left with cold or lukewarm water. To avoid having this major appliance break down on you, it’s important to properly maintain it.

1. Install a Diverter ­- While hot water is readily available, it is not alway instantaneous. It could take upwards of a minute for the water to fully warm up depending on how far away the unit is from the faucet. Rather than wasting water, have a plumber install a diverter to redirect the cool water back to the water heater until it is hot.
2. Dial it Back ­- Hot water heaters can be set to temperatures as high as 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Having the appliance set this high is unnecessary and will cost you a decent amount of money in your monthly bills. You can reduce your water heating costs by heading to your hot water heater and dialing the temperature back to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Cover Up ­- When the hot water heater and its pipes are exposed, they can give off the heat from within. This will lower the temperature of the water and cause the heater to warm it back up, resulting in a waste of energy. Look to cover the pipes with insulation and wrap the entire water heater in an insulation blanket.
4. Inspections ­- Like all major appliances, hot water heaters should be inspected from time to time to make sure they are working properly. Schedule an annual inspection to repair any malfunctioning parts and to also relieve the pressure within the unit. You can also take a few simple steps to routinely maintain your hot water heater on your own. Every so often the pressure relief valve needs to be opened to get rid of any internal pressure that’s been built up.

Properly maintaining your hot water heater will allow you to have hot water on demand without paying more than you should. When you need your hot water heater inspected or repaired, contact the professionals at SameDay Heating & Air. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (801) 726-3329.

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