Avoiding Water heater Problems is Easier Than You believe!
Avoiding Hot water heater Problems is Easier Than You think!
Did you realize that water heater problems are just about the most common reasons to call a local plumber? Did you understand that the average cost to change a leaking hot water heater is about $1000? If there were a method to easily and inexpensively extend the life span of your water heater do you need to know how? Well, read on, the secret is in the anode.
It’s Too Late If the Tank Leaks
The number one reason you’ll want to replace a hot water heater is because the actual tank has began leaking. Many people wonder when to change a water heater and when to repair that. The answer is when it has started leaking. There is no viable warm water heater repair to get a leaking tank. Problems related to no hot water can almost often be repaired, but a dripping tank means the conclusion of the road for that water heater.
The Anode Rod
Water heaters are essentially steel tanks together with vitreous glass bonded to the inside to safeguard the steel through rust. This sounds good but you can find always seams and fittings that abandon some steel confronted with the water. That’s why hot water heater manufacturers install any sacrificial anode rod in the tank.
An anode rod protects the exposed steel from your effects of electrolysis. Electrolysis occurs when dissimilar metals are in touch with each other in water. Whichever metal is the most reactive may corrode first. A metal’s "reactivity" is measured on something called a galvanic level.
Anode rods are made of aluminum or magnesium, which are much more reactive than steel, so they will corrode first. This sacrificial fishing rod protects the steel within the tank from rust. But, since they are designed to wear out, anode rods must be replaced when depleted. How long this takes depends upon several factors, such as drinking water quality, temperature and usage patterns. Once the anode rod can be used, up the fish tank starts corroding.
All new water heaters must have an anode rod installed from your factory. Some of them possess the anode installed inside a separate opening together with the tank plus some use a blend anode rod that’s installed in the warm water outlet of the particular tank. If possible, get a hot water heater with a individual anode rod, which will will often have a hex directly top where the particular anode screws into the tank. This will enable you to add a next, combination anode to improve your protection.
Adding a next anode when setting up or servicing a water heater is a very cost effective way to extend the life span of the container. That’s actually just what the manufacturers do for longer warrantied designs. You can do a similar thing. If you combine that having a regular maintenance routine you can include years to your own water heater’s support life.
Drain The Tank One or more times A Year
Maintaining your hot water heater doesn’t need to be a big chore either. Every water heat tank manual ever written includes a section regarding maintenance. They all say to inspect the T&P valve and drain the heater a minimum of annually. If you have ever done those things it’s likely you have found out that the T&P Valve wouldn’t close properly following checking it and the water heater depletion valve now leaking. Many people had the same experience and made a decision it wasn’t worth the effort.
While it’s true that the T&P Valve is likely to leak after screening it, the danger involved if it failed makes the chance of a leak worth every penny. If you desire to see what might happen because of failed T&P, just Google "water heater blast" to check out the video at the website of that name. It will help make replacing a $6 portion a no-brainer. It only takes a little residential plumbing how you can skill and a few minutes.
One other thing that can be done when you install or service a water heater to make your lifetime easier is to go on and replace the tacky, plastic drain valve. You can try this really simply once the tank is dried up. You can use a brass boiler depletion or hose bibb, just make sure it is long enough to succeed in the tank from the insulation and property. The absolute simplest way I’ve seen is to apply a brass nipple, a threaded golf ball valve and a great adapter from water pipe threads to hose threads with a cap screwed around the hose threads to avoid accidentally opening the actual valve.
Once you’ve installed a real drain valve, follow the producers suggestion. Once or twice per year, hook a hose towards the drain and get rid of the tank out before water runs obvious. This will help alleviate problems with a sediment develop in the fish tank bottom. Sediment that collects round the bottom seam can behave as a barrier and never allow the anode to safeguard that part of the tank. A reduction in efficiency due to this build up can also be a common gas water heater problem, but the huge issue is it blocks the anode defense.
It is also smart to check the anode once you flush the heater, if you get this to a routine you will be able to replace the anode before it’s completely gone. Remember, once the anode is finished the tank begins corroding. With the water towards the water heater switched off, take a large wrench and eliminate the hex nut on top of the water heating unit. The anode should look sort of like a chewed up stick, this means it is working. If it is extremely small or looks almost just like a wire with some chunks on it, it needs being replaced.
Making sure your heater is protected having a good anode rod and performing at least an annual sediment flush should let you get the maximum period of service from your hot water heater. Since a water heater has become the single most expensive part of your plumbing method, preventing a hot water heater problem can help you save a bundle. Visit Water Heater Repair Tacoma WA to get more information.