Make the Water Heater Part of Spring Cleaning

April Is a Great Time to Clean the Water Heater

As the crocuses and daffodils bloom and the redbuds and dogwoods put on their springtime flower garb, people’s minds often turn to spruce up their homes. Throwing open the windows to let in the sunshine and fresh air is only the beginning. Dusting, deep cleaning the baseboards, and refreshing throw pillows and curtains come to mind. 

However, do homeowners consider that the water heater may also need a deep clean?

Reasons for Flushing a Home’s Water Heaterwater heater

“Flushing” or descaling a water heater is the act of chemically cleaning a water heater’s tank to remove internal buildup usually formed by minerals that have been dissolved in the water supply. It can also result from sand or dirt debris from the water supply source.  

These things prevent a home from having a clean water heater tank. Removing these minerals and sediment will allow the water heater to function at its most efficiently. 

  • Capacity: If there is enough buildup, it will reduce the amount of hot water the tank can hold.
  • Heat: The water will heat up and stay hot more easily in a clean tank.
  • Efficiency: The heater uses less energy when the tank is clean.
  • Lifespan: Cleaning the water heater will extend the life of the equipment, with fewer replacement parts and full unit replacements needed.
  • Water Pressure: Mineral buildup can cause issues with water pressure and supply pipe clogs; cleaning the tank clean will be productive for maintaining water pressure.

Other Water Heater Maintenance Checksvalves

While keeping the hot water tank decalcified is a major part of performing maintenance on this home appliance, there are many more parts to a home water heater and many other things that can cause issues. Annual maintenance will prevent a problem (such as a small leak) from going unnoticed and causing serious damage (such as water damage to the house structure or a mold problem.

If a plumbing professional were to do a maintenance check on a water heater, they would likely check the following parts:

  • PRV (Pressure Release Valve)
  • Heating element
  • Electrical connections 
  • Water pipe connections 
  • Fuel pipe connections (if applicable)
  • Tank cracks
  • Tank leaks
  • Pipe leaks

What’s the Point of Maintenance?

The homeowner should keep in mind that there is a significant return for this effort. A clean water heater means a more efficient water heater. A more efficient water heater means less energy used. Less energy used means the bills will be lower. By doing yearly maintenance on the water heater, there is less likelihood of catastrophic failure and the need to replace the entire unit. It saves money throughout the water heater’s life if it is maintained.

Trust About Plumbing, Inc.

About Plumbing, Inc. has been proudly serving Jefferson County, MO since 2016. The founder has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and makes sure that his technicians are continually trained in the latest advancements. Call them today for affordable and effective plumbing services.

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