4 Ways To Improve The Efficiency Of Your Water Heater
Your water heater ensures that you have hot water when you need it most. There are simple steps that you can take to ensure that your hot water heater operates as effectively as possible and for as long as possible.
Location of Water Heater
First, you need to make sure that you know where your hot water heater is located. Hot water heaters are often located in basements, attics, or utility rooms. On top of that, you need to make sure that you have easy access to your water heater. Your water heater should not be buried under a bunch of boxes in your attic or basement. The space around your water heater should be free of other items, and you should be able to easily access it.
Type of Water Heater
Second, you need to know the type of water heater that you have. You need to know the type of fuel that your water heater relies on, be that electricity, propane, or natural gas. It is also a good idea to write down the brand name, model number, and serial number for the water heater, as well as the gallon capacity and age of the water heater. Have this information somewhere that you can easily access. This is the type of information that a plumber will ask about if you ever run into issues with your water heater.
How to Turn off the Water
Third, in the event of a water emergency, you need to know how to turn off the water and turn off the fuel supply to your water heater.
For example, if you have a gas-powered water heater, you need to know where the gas valve is and what direction to turn it in order to stop the flow of gas.
You also need to know where the water shut-off valve is located. It is generally above the piping on your water heater. You should know if you can turn off the power source and the water by hand or if you need special tools to do so.
Drain Your Water Heater
Finally, at least once a year, you need to flush your water heater. You can do this by putting a five-gallon bucket under the drain valve on the water heater. When you open up the drain valve, pay attention to what comes out. If you see that a lot of sediment has built up in your tank, you need to flush the entire tank out. To do this, you have to turn off the water, slowly drain all the water using a garden hose, and then add water back into the tank and drain the water again to get rid of any remaining sediment before you turn your water heater back on.
Contact a plumber who provides water heater services to learn more about how to maintain your water heater.