We often get asked, “How do I make my water heater last longer?”
Luckily for you, there’s a simple answer to this question: annual maintenance by a professional.
Annual maintenance keeps the components of your water heater working correctly (and safely), helping it last up to its potential lifespan, 10–15 years.
Hot water heater maintenance should be performed by a professional, who will:
Below we’ll discuss the importance of having a professional conduct annual maintenance as well as what an annual water heater maintenance entails.
Red Cap's professional plumbers have got you covered. Learn more about our water heater maintenance or schedule service below.
If you want to extend the life of your water heater (and the life of your warranty), you should have a professional come check your water heater at least once a year.
Investing in a professional check-up will save you money in the long run by:
Now that we’ve discussed why you should have a professional maintain your water heater, let’s discuss what a checkup includes.
The two main components of an annual check-up include:
Our water supply contains minerals (like calcium and magnesium) that settle in the bottom of your tank. Over time, these minerals accumulate, causing something called sediment buildup. Flushing your water heater gets rid of this sediment buildup so the heating components can heat water properly.
Note: Areas with hard water (like Florida) are more likely to experience greater sediment buildup, which is why it’s very important to flush your tank every year.
While sediment buildup may sound harmless, it can cause many issues, including:
Having a professional come and flush your water tank yearly decreases the chance that you will experience these issues.
Most water tanks are made of steel and filled with water. Because of corrosive minerals in the water that fills your tank, the steel is eventually going to corrode. Your water heater was designed with a line of defense for this corrosion, the anode rod.
Anode rod: An anode rod is sometimes referred to as a “sacrificial rod,” and attracts corrosive elements to itself so they don’t corrode the inside of the tank.
If your anode rod is doing its job, it will eventually become corroded and will need to be replaced. A professional will check your anode rod and determine how corroded it is and if it needs to be swapped for a new one.
Note: If you don’t replace your anode rod, corrosive elements will turn to your tank, corroding it instead.
Corroded anode rod and sediment buildup in bottom of the tank
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