You may not give your home’s water heater much thought until it’s no longer doing its job providing hot water, so to avoid that dilemma the experts at Harco Plumbing and Mechanical in Cambridge have some maintenance tips to help extend the life of your hot water heater, saving you money and hassle.
Water heaters can last for more than a decade, so keeping them properly maintained annually is important. Before attempting any type of maintenance, however, be sure to turn off all power to the appliance to avoid any possible electrical shocks.
Dialing down the temperature to between 115 to 120 F will protect the tank from overheating and reduce the energy used. Test the temperature and pressure relief valve and open the drain valve to let water run for 30 minutes once a year.
Removing sediment from the bottom of the tank is important to prevent rust, corrosion and to improve overall efficiency. A full flush is suggested, but requires shutting down the heater. A mini-flush works well by turning the valve counter-clockwise to release a few gallons of water into a bucket, then closing the valve again.
If you have a sump pump chamber, test in the spring and the fall to make sure it turns off and on. If you have any outdoor hose taps, shut off the valve on the inside and drain by November.
Harco Plumbing and Mechanical has more than 30 years of experience with new installs, sewer cleaning and replacement, offering a full range of residential and commercial plumbing services including repairs, water softeners, sump pumps, catch basin cleaning and high pressure drain flushing. When it comes to plumbing, let the professionals do the job right the first time.
Servicing the areas of Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph, Harco Plumbing and Mechanical is located at 100 Sheldon Drive, Unit 15 in Cambridge. Reach them by phone at 519-880-0105, by email at bradharco@gmail.com or visit their website at www.harcoplumbingandmechanical.com.
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