7 Ways to Avoid Water Heater Breakdowns and Keep Your Family Warm and Safe
If you live in a cold climate, you know that keeping your family warm is one of the most important parts of winter. But you might be surprised to know that many Canadians rely on traditional water heaters for their heating needs in the winter — without realizing how easy it is to cause your water heater problems and get yourself into potentially dangerous situations.
In order to repair your water heater , you must be proactive and understand how these appliances work. This article is going to give you some helpful tips on what you should do in order to prevent your family from getting hurt from defective heating equipment.
Do Not Leave Your Water Heater With Explosive Temperatures.There are several common reasons why your water heater might fail soon. Most of them are related to the temperature inside the tank, but other factors can also cause your heater to malfunction, such as too much sediment in it (which can be caused by not replacing the sediment collector when needed), or if cool water is put into it (which can result from a leaky heating system).
.But what if the water heater springs a leak and starts to flood your home?
If this sounds like something that could happen in your house, then there are some basic steps you can take to avoid this kind of problem. Our post will outline 7 ways to keep your water heater fully functional and make sure it doesn't break down during those cold winter months.
1. Service your water heater annually for leaks and other safety hazards. You can do this yourself by shutting off the water supply and waiting for the tank to cool completely before testing. When you're ready, turn on the faucet connected to your hot water line and use a flashlight to look for leaks or drips in the area near the base of the tank. If you see an issue, investigate further before turning your water back on.
2. Prevent corrosion in your tank with a water heater protector. Corrosion can be the first step in a dangerous breakdown if it's not stopped early on. A water heater protector helps protect your tank from corrosion that can lead to leaking and other break downs over time. The longer you wait to apply this protective coating, the higher the chances of a leak happening when you least expect it.
3. Don't leave a pipe attached to your water heater unattended! This is common advice given out by water heater manufacturers, but I have heard more than enough stories from other homeowners about how this can lead to leaks and other issues. It's best to install a pipe that goes straight into the ground and requires no extra care before you turn on your hot water.
4. Avoid using chemicals or cleaners on your hot water pipes or fittings by purchasing a hot water tank flush kit that fits just about any kind of installation. This kit helps keep our water lines in tip top shape by keeping them free of foreign materials. The chemicals in these kits can cause corrosion and residue that would otherwise lead to leaks.
5. Get in the habit of inspecting your water heater for problems before the leak really starts. It's a good idea to check for any leaks before you turn on your water at all, but it's especially important if it has been a while since you used hot water or had a pipe replaced. I've seen it happen countless times when a pipe has been left on a water heater for too long.
6. Ask your local plumber about the need for a cover on the top of your water heater. A cover is really important because it allows for proper heat circulation from one section to the other. If you're talking to someone about this option, try to make sure they know that this will keep the tank from getting too hot and causing potential issues with rusting metal fittings and wires.
7. If your hot water tank almost fills up, turn it off and don't leave it on. This is something that I personally look for just before water freezes so that we're not running unnecessary costs on a system that's not being used. I know that this sounds like common sense, but there are plenty of homeowners who forget about turning their hot water tank off during the winter.
Use the tips listed above to make sure that your hot water heater lasts for many cold winter months to come. If you live in a cold climate like I do, then it's important to be prepared for these kinds of problems that can happen anywhere.
Final Words:
I hope you find this useful.The average water heater lasts about 8-12 years, but with all these tips and knowing how to take care of your water heater, you can extend its life.We'd love to hear from you on any tips that have worked for you in the past, or if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment below! Before You Go... If you like this post please share it by hitting one of the social media sharing buttons below (or all of them!)...
Author Bio:- Jacqueline Lewis
Jacqueline is a content marketing manager who formerly worked at Cali's Choice Plumbing & Restoration. She is a writer, editor, and content strategist for plumbing services. Making her knowledge and skills a power, she amplifies the readers’ knowledge about the ways of water leak and slab leak detection and their reciprocation.
Through her articles, she shares the most successful tactics and strategies of slab leak repair, mitigating blockages through Hydro Jetting, and AC & heater installation tips to the audience.
