Nobody likes taking cold showers in the winter. To ensure your bathing comfort during the season of freezing temperatures, it’s imperative that you have your hot water tanks inspected and maintained on a regular basis by a competent Saskatoon plumbing professional. This becomes even more necessary with the modern and sophisticated systems of today because messing with high-tech components could leave you with nothing but cold water until the plumber can drop by. However, there are some basic maintenance steps that you can perform yourself to ensure your water heater serves you well for the long term.
Check around the water tank
Check the exterior of the water heater system for any form of condensation or deterioration, including cracks and leaks. If you notice any of these, have a plumber inspect your system immediately and determine if it can be repaired or not. Look at the flame as well. Ideally, it should be blue. If it’s yellow or orange, then a call to a plumbing professional is in order.
Check the pressure relief valve
The pressure relief valve discharges unnecessary tank pressure. If there’s a problem with it, pressure could build up in your tank until it explodes. Most often, these valves are labeled to make them obvious, but if you can’t tell where this device is in your water heater system, consult your heater manual. Check that the valve doesn’t stick by opening and closing it. If the valve is working, it should be easy to open and close, and hot water should spray out.
Flush the tank
To do this, start by unplugging the unit or switching the circuit breaker off, then closing the cold water inlet valve. Attach a hose o the drain outlet, and let the hose run to a drain, bucket, or outside. Open the pressure relief valve and let the tank’s contents drain. Afterward, clean the tank interior with a spray hose. This washes away the sediment that may have accumulated on your tank’s inner lining.
Should you encounter a problem while performing these maintenance steps, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional in the repair and installation of Saskatoon water heaters such as Perfection Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Ltd.
Sources:
Extend Water Heater Life, FamilyHandyman.com
Double the Lifespan of Your Water Heater For Less Than $50, PopularMechanics.com