Performing Maintenance for Storage Hot Water Heaters
Hot Water Heaters are major home appliances used to warm water to a desired temperature for bathing, cleaning, and drinking. With a little upkeep, this device can provide years of trouble-free operation. Learning about general maintenance will allow you to optimize the functionality and longevity of this investment.
Before you can start maintenance, learn about the basics components of your water heater. Reading the owner’s manual should avail you of this information. If you don’t have his instructional booklet, order one from the manufacturer of your water heater. Most companies are happy to provide this information. You don’t have to be an expert to know how the parts of a water heater work together to provide sanitary water.
After learning about your water heater, locate your water heater. This appliance is usually situated in the garage, basement, or closet. Care should be taken when dealing with a water heater due to possible exposure to hot water and steam. Once you locate your water heater, determine if it’s powered by electricity or gas. Check your owner’s manual for this information also. Turn off the electricity or gas before doing any work on the tank. The water shut off valve, pressure release valve, and water drain will need to be accessed. Locate these parts of the water tank. You will need a bucket, hose, and gloves for this task.
Turn off the water at the water shut off valve and attach the hose to the water drain. Turn on the water drain to drain water from the tank. The water will move through the water hose to outside the home. Slowly turn the pressure release valve to allow air into the tank. Draining all the water will take about 30 minutes. After this is done, turn the water on to clean remaining sediment from the tank. After this drains, refill the tank. Turn on the gas or electricity after this is done.
Performing upkeep may require purchasing extra parts. Visiting a store such as Ramapo Wholesalers or viewing their website will allow you to deal with professionals who can handle various parts for Hot Water Heaters.
