The water heater in your Commerce, MI home ensures that you can enjoy a hot shower or bath each day. It also allows you to clean your home and wash your clothing. Unfortunately, many homeowners neglect routine maintenance for their water heater, assuming it will work whenever they demand hot water. Like other appliances, your water heater will experience wear and tear over time. You should schedule professional water heater maintenance and repairs when necessary. This will extend the lifespan of your water heater and ensure access to hot water when you need it.
Professional Water Heater Inspections
Your water heater should be professionally inspected at least once per year. Ideally, you should have our team inspect your entire plumbing system yearly. The process of water heater inspection includes checking the various components of your water heater, including the anode rod, thermostat, power source, pressure relief valve, and electrical connections. If we notice there is a problem, we can perform a repair right away. This prevents your water heater from malfunctioning when you need it most. This can also save you money on your monthly utility bills. A well-maintained water heater is efficient and will result in fewer water heater repair bills, as problems can be dealt with while they’re still minor.
When we inspect the anode rod in your water heater, we check to see how many mineral deposits and sediments have accumulated on its surface. This is essentially a sacrificial part that protects the rest of your tank from wear and corrosion. This rod should be replaced every three to five years. If your anode rod is becoming dirty very frequently, you may have hard water that is impacting your water heater. We can help you address this issue with a water softener or water filtration device.
Flushing Your Water Tank
Your water heater’s tank should be flushed annually. This process removes sediment and mineral deposits that can accumulate at the bottom of the tank, impacting how efficiently your tank can heat water and retain a warm temperature. This process should be done by a professional since your tank contains a high level of pressure and very hot water. There is also some source of power being fed to your water heater. When you combine water and electricity, this can pose a safety hazard.
The process of flushing your water heater includes turning off power to your tank (gas or electric) as well as the cold-water inlet valve. We will attach a hose to your drain valve and feed the hose to your nearby sump pump or outside. It doesn’t take long for the water to drain. Once the tank is empty, we will remove the hose and close the valve back up so that no water can escape.
Assessing Equipment Lifespan
During a routine water heater appointment, we can assess the overall condition of your heater. On average, a water heater is designed to last between 8 and 12 years. This time frame will likely be much shorter if you skip scheduling routine maintenance. Our goal is to provide you with enough notice that your water heater is nearing the end of its lifespan. This will provide you with plenty of time to budget for a replacement. Replacing your water heater before it fails can prevent any disruption in hot water in your home.
Adjusting Thermostat Temperature
It’s simple for a homeowner to adjust the temperature on their water heater. The average temperature setting is between 120- and 140-degrees Fahrenheit. If you set your thermostat higher than 140 degrees, this can cause your heater to run very frequently to maintain the temperature inside your tank. When you choose a temperature, consider the hot water demands of your household. If you have a lot of people living in your home, you may need to raise the temperature to ensure everyone has hot water when they need it.
You should also consider the size of your water heater. If you have a heater that is too large for your household, this can result in you spending a lot of money on your energy bill. Your heater will be working overtime to maintain the temperature of your water whether it’s being used or not. This can lead to equipment strain and a shortened system lifespan. If you have three or four people in your home, you’ll want a tank that is approximately 40 gallons in size. More than four people in your home will warrant a tank that is 50 gallons or slightly larger.
Adding Water Heater Insulation
If you would like to boost the efficiency of your water heater, consider having insulation added around your tank and its related pipes and plumbing. This will help keep water warm, preventing your tank from running frequently. There are different types of insulation available. We can help you choose a type based on your budget and needs. Foam tubing can be easily cut and placed over pipes to provide insulation. This is an affordable method that requires minimal disruption to your home during the installation process. You can also have fiberglass batting installed around your water heater system.
Checking the Exterior of Your Tank
You can inspect the exterior of your water heater every couple of months. Look for signs of damage like dents. You should also pay close attention to any rust or corrosion that is forming. If this damage is on the exterior of your tank, this can indicate the interior is damaged as well. Watch out for signs of water heater damage, such as discolored water coming from your fixtures when the hot water tap is turned on.
Consider a Tankless Hot Water System
If your household has high hot water demands, consider investing in a tankless hot water system. This eliminates the need to have a large tank installed inside your home. There isn’t any stored water that will need to be heated and maintained, providing you with a much more efficient option for hot water access. This is a bigger investment than a tankless model, but it can last much longer. Many tankless hot water heaters can last 20 years or more.
Tankless systems require maintenance as well. You should have your unit inspected yearly. Flushing the unit is important for the same reasons that we flush a tank-based model. Sediment and mineral deposits can form on the interior components of a tankless model. We will also check for signs of leaks, equipment damage, and more. We will check all connections to ensure they are tight. If your tankless system utilizes filters, these should be changed yearly as well.
Matheson Heating, Air & Plumbing is available for water heater maintenance in the Commerce area. We also provide emergency plumbing repairs, water filtration, water softeners, and drain repair. We can install, repair, and replace your heating and cooling equipment as well. Our team can ensure you have healthy and safe indoor air quality with whole-house filtration and purification equipment installed onto your HVAC system. Contact Matheson Heating, Air & Plumbing in Commerce today to schedule an appointment.