23 February 2018
 Categories: , Blog

Your water heater is one of the elements of your home's plumbing that you want to care for properly in order to reduce your chances of dealing with a variety of issues. Some of the things you can do to help get more out of your water heater are also things you can do to help keep it running efficiently, cutting down on your monthly bills. Here are some of the things you want to do with your water heater:

Set your thermostat on a good setting

Setting the water heater's thermostat higher than it needs to be, or even should be, can lead to different problems. The first thing you will need to be concerned about is the water coming out so hot that it causes someone in the household to be burned. Another thing that you need to be concerned about is the extra cost associated with running the water heater at a hotter temperature than you need to. Plus, keeping it on a hotter temperature than you need will put more wear and tear on the unit which means increased repairs in the future and possibly early replacement needed.

Have the water heater drained

If you start to hear the water heater making a strange sound, then you more than likely have sediment collecting in the bottom of the water heater. You want to drain the water heater when there is a fair amount of sediment collected in the tank. This will help you to keep the water heater in better condition longer and help to keep it working more efficiently. Draining the water heater is something that you will be able to do on your own. However, it is a good idea for you to have a professional plumber come out to your home to do it for you the first time. Watch them while they are draining it and ask them questions about the process if you see something that you don't understand. Once you are at a point where you know you can do it yourself, then you can take over the job and drain it on your own from that point forward.

Make sure the water heater is on level ground and secured in place

It is very important to make sure your water heater is on a flat and level ground and that it is even secured in place. If you live in an area where earthquakes are a good possibility or even other types of natural disasters, then there may even be laws regarding how the water heater is braced and secured in place. Make sure you are following those laws.

For more information, contact a business such as A B C Drain & Plumbing.