Imagine a Saturday evening with a big night out planned for the entire family; you step into the shower only to find there is no hot water. Thoughts rattle around in the back of your mind as you kick yourself for neglecting proper maintenance of the hot water heater. Burying your head in the sand will never improve any situation, especially when it comes to home maintenance projects. New Jersey plumbers can make sure the water heater in your home is in proper working order. This an be accomplished in a few easy steps, preventing headaches in the future.
Drain the Unit
Your first line of defense in the proper maintenance of your water heater is draining the unit on an annual basis. Debris from water builds up and collects at the bottom of the water heater tank over time. Dirt, sediment, and minerals accumulate decreasing efficiency and increasing the cost of operation. Sediment build-up promotes rusting, potentially causing an early replacement of the unit. A few words of caution, however—if this procedure has not been performed in more than a few years—the do-it-yourself approach could create unanticipated problems. Dislodging the sediment that has been present for years could cause a leak in the tank the debris may have been plugging an existing hole. This simple process, whether professionally performed or not, will help keep hot water running in your home.
Replace the Anode Rod
The next recommendation is to replace the anode rod. The rod attracts corrosive elements from the water, preventing the early degradation of the interior walls of the tank. This should be done every few years and will prevent rust buildup. It will also stave off the early replacement of the unit. The rod should be checked annually and must be replaced when it is over-corroded and is no longer able to attract harmful components from the water. Magnesium rods offer better protection but also have a shorter life-span. Aluminum/zinc rods are cheaper and have a longer lifespan, but only when used in a smaller unit.
Insulate the Unit & Lower the Temps
Insulating the entire unit increases efficiency and can reduce heat loss by up to 45 percent. This action translates into savings when paying your energy bills throughout the year. Most hot water heaters come with a preset temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but setting the temperature at 120 degrees is safer and more efficient. The lower temperature provides hot water while decreasing the possibility of scalding burns from occurring.
Following these easy steps alone or with the help of the professionals at All Jersey Mechanical & Construction will keep your residential plumbing flowing at optimal levels all year round. We offer drain clearing services, residential plumbing services, heating repair, air conditioning, residential electrical services, renovation, construction, maintenance services as well as Energy Management Systems (EMS), and generators in the central and eastern New Jersey area. We are located at 77 Cliffwood Avenue, Suite 4C in Cliffwood, New Jersey. Reach out to us to get your project planning underway.
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