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In several ways, a water heater acts as the heart of your home. Your home needs a water heater that works efficiently to heat the water you use, from taking warm showers, doing the dishes, and running laundry. Water heater maintenance will become more crucial than ever with the colder months quickly approaching in Rochester, NY.
It can be easy to forget about this important plumbing appliance in your home, seeing as it usually hides in the basement, but remembering to flush a water heater annually is important. You can always reach out to AP Plumbing for hot water heater repair in Rochester, NY.
Water heater maintenance involves two steps: draining and flushing. The difference between the two has to do with the water supply. If you shut off the water supply, you’re draining the heater — this empties the tank completely. If you leave on the water supply, you’re flushing the heater out. When you flush the tank, you clean out old sediment and replace the standing water with new water.
It’s ideal for a water heater to be flushed and drained regularly every six months.
Overall, ensuring you flush your water heater annually will benefit your water heater immensely.
Plumbers typically advise that you drain your water heater before flushing it. Before draining the water heater, it’s crucial to first shut off the water supply so that the tank can drain completely. You must also shut off the gas and electric heat in your home to avoid burning out the heating elements.
It’s recommended to let the water heater cool off overnight to prevent any injuries. After the water heater has cooled, you should connect the hose from the drain to your drain’s valve. Turn the wheel until the valve opens, then turn on the faucet to speed up the process.
The process of draining the tank can take a long time, but it’s vital to make sure the water is clean.
One reason to flush your water heater every year is to maintain your water heater’s efficiency. Essentially, water heater maintenance allows your tank to sustain its peak performance.
Water heaters are flushed to get rid of sediment and corrosion that the taps bring in. This sediment builds up in the tank over time. Since hot water alone cannot discharge the sediment buildup, it’s up to a water heater flush to finish the job.
Pledging to flush your water heater every year can help extend its life by many years. When you flush the water tank annually, you’re reducing the chance of any damages affecting the health of your water heater.
In addition to making sure to flush your water heater annually, it’s imperative to test your water heater’s pressure-relief valve. The pressure-relief valve is an essential safety mechanism that prevents excess pressure from collecting in your tank. If there’s too much corrosion in the valve, there’s a chance you will not be able to open the drain valve.
While homeowners can test a pressure-relief valve themselves, it’s better to let an experienced plumber look at it. You can contact the plumbers at AP Plumbing for all your plumbing needs.
While you should flush your water heater annually, additional maintenance is required to maintain its efficiency. This maintenance includes replacing the anode rod.
In a water heater, the anode rod is responsible for the heater’s lifespan. The anode rod acts as a magnet for the corrosion in your tank, drawing it away from the tank’s walls.
If you have questions about how to flush your water heater every year, AP Plumbing is only a call away. Reach out to the team at AP Plumbing for water heater replacement in Rochester, NY.
