Autumn has arrived! It also brings shorter days, crisper mornings, and an overall rise in water heater usage. Our team of skilled plumbers has created a list of do-it-yourself Fall water heater maintenance methods in light of how much more you’re likely to use your water heater this season. So, go through the procedures below to make sure your water heater is prepared for the season before you get caught up in making your Halloween costume and decorating your home.
#1: Flush the Water Heater’s Tank
If your water heater is a tankless one, you can feel free to skip this step.
However, if you have a traditional tanked water heater like the majority of us, you need flush out the tank once a year. As luck would have it, autumn is the ideal season to carry out this task. Why do you inquire? Because the seasonal increase in total use hours for water heaters begins in the Fall. In other words, when it’s colder outside, people take longer hot showers (hey, we never said any of this was rocket science). You should follow these methods to flush out your water heater:
- Cut the water heater’s electricity.
- Turn off the cold water valve in Step 2.
- Wait a few hours for the water in the tank to cool.
- Connect a hose to the tank’s side drain valve.
- Insert the hose’s other end into a drain or a sizable bucket.
- Turn on a few of your home’s faucets, preferably the hot water ones.
- Turn on the release valve (near where you attached the hose in step 4) to drain the tank.
After the tank has drained, disconnect the hose, shut the release valve, shut off all of your faucets, reopen the cold water valve, and restart your water heater.
#2: Lower the Thermostat Setting
Although it might sound illogical at first, trust us on this one. Try lowering the temperature of your water heater by around 10 degrees in fall. Since individuals often use more hot water in the Fall and Winter, slightly lowering the temperature will greatly lower your energy costs for those two months.
Furthermore, the majority of people scarcely even perceive a ten-degree change in the temperature of the water. As a result, the only thing to remember while adjusting the temperature on your water heater is to maintain it above 120 degrees and below 140 degrees. Otherwise, you run the danger of getting burns, scalds, and water-borne infections.
#3: Check the TPR Valve (Test and Pressure Relief Valve)
To prevent your water heater from exploding, the TPR Valve (Test and Pressure Relief Valve) was created. Water heaters can explode, that much is true. Locate the valve (which is typically on the bottom of the tank) and turn it on to test your TPR valve. Water should be heard and felt flowing via the discharge pipe that is attached. You should turn off the power to the water heater and get in touch with us right away if, for any reason, you don’t hear or feel water flowing through the discharge pipe.
Contact Us for More Water Heater Assistance
They still malfunction occasionally, even if you’ve been trying your best to keep up with your DIY Fall water heater maintenance. Therefore, feel free to get in touch with the professionals at BJC Plumbing right away if you’re having issues with your water heater or if you need help with your care (there’s nothing shameful about that). We are always available to assist you with any water heater issues!
