WATER HEATER MAINTENANCE, repair and inspection

Basic Water Heater Care and Maintenance 

A water heater is easy to forget about—until it suddenly stops working. Keeping a regular water heater maintenance schedule will uphold performance, use less energy and last longer.  Some maintenance tips include:

Periodically Drain Your Tank. Over time, water heaters can build up sediment that damages the tank. To prevent build up, you may want to consider draining your tank periodically to remove the sediments.

If you find that your tank's water has bits of metal or rust in it, call Rescue Rooter^® immediately for water heater repair services. These particles probably indicate the anode rod needs to be replaced. The anode rod attracts chemicals in the water and keeps them away from rusting away the tank liner.

Insulate Your Water Heater.  One of the easiest ways to save energy and money is to insulate your water heater.  Unless your water heater's storage tank already has a high R-value of insulation (at least R-24), adding insulation to it can reduce standby heat losses by 25%–45%. This will save you around 4%–9% in water heating costs.  If you don't know your water heater tank's R-value, touch it. A tank that's warm to the touch needs additional insulation.

Insulating your storage water heater tank is fairly simple and inexpensive, and it will pay for itself in about a year.  You can find pre-cut jackets or blankets available from around $10–$20. Choose one with an insulating value of at least R-8. Some utilities sell them at low prices, offer rebates, and even install them at a low or no cost.

Insulating an Electric Water Heater. You can probably install an insulating pre-cut jacket or blanket on your electric water heater tank yourself.  Read and follow the directions carefully. Leave the thermostat access panel(s) uncovered. Don't set the thermostat above 130ºF on electric water heater with an insulating jacket or blanket—the wiring may overheat.

Professional Water Heater Inspection. A service professional should conduct a thorough water heater inspection at least once a year. Rescue Rooter^® makes it easy by offering annual service plans. Our home plumbing experts will drain your tank to remove any sediment (if recommended), inspect the tank and connections for rust, wear or corrosion, replace worn anode rods, check the pressure relief valve, and more.

Contact your local Rescue Rooter^® plumbing repair specialists today to schedule your annual water heater inspection or if you are in need of water heater repairs.