Extend the Life of Your Water Heater with These 5 Tips

A water heater may last for up to 10 years before it needs to be replaced. The lifespan of a water heater is affected by various things, including its manufacturer and the quality of water. In addition to keeping your water heater maintained through regular water heater tune-ups, there are some things you can do to extend the life of your water heater.

Flush Your Water Heater Every Year

Flushing out your water heater involves draining all the water from it and replacing it with fresh water.

Over time, sediment may build up in your water heater’s tank. This sediment can prevent the heat exchanger from working correctly, which can cause reduced efficiency and increase energy costs. To avoid these issues, it’s essential to flush out your water heater once a year.

Flushing your tank involves draining out some of the water and replacing it with fresh water to remove these substances. While this is a simple process, it requires time and effort. If you aren’t sure how to flush your tank, it’s always best to contact a professional plumber for a water heater tune-up.

Change the Anode Rod

Anode rods help keep the inner workings of your water heater free from corrosion, which keeps it working properly for years and years.

The anode rod attracts corrosion-causing ions in the water, which are then neutralized by this process.

If you don’t change your anode rod regularly, it will lose its effectiveness and start to corrode itself. If this happens, you’ll have problems with rust on your water heater — not good!

The average lifespan of an anode rod is three to five years, but it can vary depending on how often you use your water heater, how much sediment builds up in it, and how many times you drain and refill it.

Consider an Expansion Tank

A water heater expansion tank is an important safety feature of your water heater and should be included with all installations. A water heater expansion tank is a device that relieves pressure from the hot water system by collecting the excess pressure and storing it in a chamber.

An expansion tank collects extra fluid from your plumbing system to relieve extra pressure from the hot water lines. The fluid fills up into a chamber inside the tank, releasing excess fluid back into your pipes whenever there is too much pressure on them. The process allows for a more stable flow of hot water throughout your home.

If you don’t have an expansion tank attached to your water heater, the system may become pressurized. This can cause leaks or damage to other components of your home. A water heater expansion tank can also help prevent scalding injuries by limiting the amount of pressure in your hot water system.

Test the Pressure-Relief Valve

Water heater pressure release valves are essential to check and test occasionally. They are designed to release excess pressure in the tank if it builds up past a certain level. This could be caused by sediment buildup or a faulty thermostat. If this valve fails, it can cause the water heater to crack and leak water into your home.

The pressure release valve is usually located near the top of your water heater, near where the top element connects to the tank. It will look like a small pipe with a spring inside it. You may also see a small plastic cap over the top that is held on by two screws.

The best way to test your pressure-release valve is to call a professional plumber. They can assess the state of your current system and make sure everything’s working properly. In some cases, they may recommend replacing an old valve with a new one that’s easier to maintain and less likely to fail over time.

Install a Water Softener or Whole House Filter

If you live in a house with hard water, you know that your water heater can suffer from the effects of hard water build up.

The first step to extending the life of your water heater is to install a whole-house filter. A whole-house filter will remove impurities and sediment in your water supply, reducing the amount of sediment that can build up inside your hot water tank.

A second step would be installing a water softener system to remove any remaining contaminants from your home’s plumbing system. Water softeners use salt to remove calcium and magnesium ions from hard water supplies by exchanging them for sodium ions.

Many different types and brands of units are available on the market today, so make sure you do some research before deciding on one that fits your needs best.

Book your home’s water heater flush with the pros at Bell Bros.

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