Water heaters have become a necessity today. Proper maintenance can help your water heater provide trouble free service for many years. Some basic maintenance measures are all that are required to save a bundle on water heater repair or replacement.
Signs that your heater needs to be serviced
If the water coming out of your heater has bad odor, strange color or sediments, it's a clear indication that cleaning is required. Decrease in the efficiency of heater is also a sign that it is time for maintenance check. Your water heater can cause your energy bills to soar, if not maintained properly. Anode rod is one of the most important parts of a heater. The presence of orange colored water beneath the rod is a clear signal that it needs to be replaced.
It is best not to wait for your water heater to give out rust colored water or fall to floor because of rusting before you call the plumber. Proper water heater maintenance helps you save money in a number of ways. It increases the heater's lifespan, avoids the necessity to buy a new one and ensures efficient use of energy.
Common problems and their solutions
Buildup of sediments and minerals is often the main cause of water heater problems. Sediments collected at the bottom of your water heater can be easily cleaned using a brush and garden hose. You can just scrub out the sediments and then flush them away using the hose. It is recommended to do this at least once a year. If the water in your area is hard, frequent cleaning may be required as the sediments tend to buildup faster. Simply flushing the heater with water every few months will also help you keep it clean.
Corrosion of anode rod is another common problem in old heaters. It is advisable to check the rod every few months for any signs of corrosion and replace it if required. Bacteria can cause bad odor in your water heater. This can be easily taken care of with bleach. You can add bleach, fill the tank with water and let it stay for some time to get rid of bacteria. This can be followed by routine flushing.
If your water heater provides too cold or too hot water, you may be able to solve this problem with simple adjustments in the thermostat. Leaks can cause considerable damage, it is best to take the help of a professional plumber to identify the source of the leak and fix it at the earliest.
Signs that your water heater needs to be replaced
One of the easiest ways to decide whether or not you need to replace your heater is by considering its age. The lifespan of a gas operated water heater is around 8 - 12 years, while the electric ones can offer trouble free service for up to 15 years. The lifespan of tankless is believed to be longer than that of electric heaters, but they are relatively new and age may not be the best indicated of whether or not they need to be replaced. If you notice moisture near the base of your eater, it may indicate a small leak. A plumber will be able to tell you, if the heater can be repaired or needs to be replaced.
If the heater is so rusted that it is giving out rusty water, it may be time to replace it. In spite of proper maintenance, if your heater is unable to provide the same amount of hot water as before, it may need to be replaced. You may wait for the heater to stop working completely before buying a new one, only if you don't mind taking cold showers. Decrease in efficiency is the best indicator that a water heater needs to be replaced.
Once you have made the decision, the next step is to choose a new one, which is most suitable for your needs. Today so many types of water heaters and water circulation systems are available in the market that selecting the best among them can be confusing. Your choice should be based on the amount of hot water your family needs.
If your old heater operated on gas, making a change to an electric water heater and vice versa can be expensive. Based on the place where you reside, solar water heater is another option worth considering as it is not only eco friendly, but also pays for itself in a few years time in energy saving and rebates. But you will have to make initial investment for installation. Knowing various types of water heaters and water circulation systems available in the market will help you decide which one is the most appropriate for your requirements.
Types of water heaters and water recirculation systems
Today mainly two types of water heaters are in use, conventional storage heaters and tankless heaters. Although in use since a long time, traditional storage type heaters have come a long way. Modern storage style heaters are eco friendly, more efficient and include many safety features. These heaters, if maintained properly, can serve you for many years. All you need to do is flush the heater annually and check the anode rod periodically to ensure that your storage style water heater remains in good condition.
Tankless offer many benefits including lower energy cost, lesser space requirement, longer lifespan than storage type heaters and most importantly endless hot water supply. But unless you choose a tankless of appropriate size, you may not get desired results. These heaters often need a new vent line and a dedicated gas line. It may be a good idea to install a water softener with a tankless heater. Annual de-scaling may be necessary, if water softener is not installed.
Water recirculation systems are often installed to ensure that hot water reaches even the most distant fixtures in the house easily. These are of three types: conventional, retrofit-by-pass and demand system. The traditional water recirculation systems feature an extra pipe, which enables water from far away fixtures to easily return to the heater. A pump is used to push water out of the heater and back into it through the return pipe. The pump can be equipped with thermostats and timers to bring down the running time.
In case of retrofit-by-pass, the cold water line is used as return pipe. Similar to traditional systems, pumps are used to move the water. Demand water recirculation system work is the same fashion as retrofit-by-pass system and makes use of cold water line as return line. But in this case, a wireless remote is pressed to start the pump when hot water is desired. This system works best with tankless heaters.
Regardless of the type of water heater and water circulation system you use, maintenance is essential to ensure that they provide trouble free service for many years. Some of the best plumbing service providers like In Demand Plumbing in San Francisco East Bay, California offer full service water heater maintenance plans. Such plans are cost effective and can prolong your water heater's life by five to ten years.
