You know that your car needs maintenance and regular oil changes in order to keep running decently. You’ve probably heard that heating systems and air conditioners also need maintenance.
But what about your water heater? Do you forget about it entirely unless something is wrong and you end up in an ice-cold shower? It needs maintenance, too!
Reduce the Risk of Water Heater Repair Needs
All too often, we get called in to repair a water heater because of a problem that could have been avoided entirely. And the best way to avoid problems is to make sure your water heater has routine maintenance done! Ideally, this is done each and every year.
One of the major things that water heaters usually need is to have sediment and mineral scaling flushed out of the system. The sediment is caused by tiny specks in your water. It’s not enough for you to notice when you get a glass of water to drink, but your water heater has a huge amount of water flow through it each year. And while the water sits in the tank, the sediment can settle out, like silt at the bottom of a pond.
The mineral scaling is different. It’s caused by dissolved minerals that your water carried with it from its journey through rocks and aquifers to get to you. Those minerals get deposited on the surfaces of your tank or tankless system and inside your pipes, creating rock-like layers that narrow the spaces and create problems. This will build up faster in homes with hard water, but it happens everywhere.
These substances cause uneven water temperatures, insufficient hot water, lowered water pressure at your taps, and sometimes dangerously high water pressure in your tank! A qualified plumber can wash all this away and keep your water heater much happier, eliminating the need for future repairs.
Increase the Lifespan of Your Water Heater
The ultimate cause of death for most water heaters is corrosion, also known as rust. This weakens the structure, eating away at the metal until it ends up cracked and leaking. It can even crack open suddenly, causing catastrophic water damage to the area around your water heater. But if you’re having maintenance done regularly, something like this won’t have a chance to catch you by surprise.
The water heater has a component called the anode rod. It attracts the ions that cause oxidation and corrosion. This means that the anode rod gets rusted quickly, but the rest of the water heater is saved from that fate. But if you don’t have a plumber check on your anode rod and replace it regularly, that rust will spread to the rest of your water heater and shorten its lifespan.
As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Make sure your water heater won’t rust out early or have sudden repair needs that leave you showering in cold water! Schedule your routine water heater service in Manassas, VA right away.
AllTech Services, Inc. is your trusted resource for all your water heater concerns. Contact us today!