Water Heater Maintenance Tips: Ensuring Longevity and Efficiency

4 Tank Water Heater Maintenance Tips

1. Check the Pressure Relief Valve

The pressure relief valve is an essential safety feature that allows your tank storage heater to drain if pressure levels become dangerously high. You can test it by lifting the tab on the valve and holding it for a few seconds. The water should flow freely when the tab is up and stop when it’s down. If it doesn’t work correctly, you need to replace it.

2. Flush the Water Tank

Flushing your water tank once a year is crucial to clean out the interior and remove sediment buildup, which can increase its efficiency. To flush your water heater, turn off the water, power, and gas at the source, allow the water to cool, attach a hose to the drain valve, put the end of the hose in a bucket or drain, turn on the hot water in one or two faucets, turn on the drain valve, turn off the drain valve once the tank is empty, refill the tank with water, and turn the power back on.

3. Check the Anode Rod

The anode rod is a steel core wire with a metal coating that protects the inner lining of your water heater by attracting corrosive minerals in the water. If it is coated with calcium, you need to replace it.

4. Complete Other Useful Maintenance Tasks

Other maintenance tips include cleaning the air intake filter, insulating the pipes and the heater, and getting a professional inspection every year.

3 Tankless Water Heater Maintenance Tips

1. Flush the System

Tankless water heaters need to be flushed and descaled to remove buildup at least twice a year. To flush your tankless water heater, make a mixture of vinegar and water, turn off the water to the pump, attach two hoses to the unit, use a sump pump to push the vinegar water solution into the unit for at least 45 minutes, and flush the unit with plain water.

2. Clean the Water and Air Filters

Cleaning your tankless water heater’s water and air filters is essential to ensure that it runs smoothly. To clean the filter, turn off the water supply, remove the filter, wipe the water filter clean with a cloth or warm soapy water, and clean the air filter with a soft brush and soapy water.

3. Use a Water Softener and Water Filtration System

Adding a water softener and water filtration system to your home removes calcium, sediment buildup, and other contaminants from the water. This is a simple way to help your unit last longer and improve the water quality in your home.

Get Reliable, Professional Water Heater Maintenance

While these tips can help maintain your water heater, it’s best to have professionals take a look at your unit at least once a year. If you need reliable, high-quality maintenance services for your water heater, Northern Climate Control provides knowledgeable experts for the best care.

Contact us today to get professional help with any servicing you need!

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Kevin was fantastic! Very easy to work with and knowledgeable about our HVAC system. After being told that we should replace our furnace entirely because of its age after a transformer blew, I'm so happy we called Northern Climate Control, Inc., for a second opinion. Not only did Kevin replace the faulty transformer, but essentially he saved us thousands of dollars by not prematurely replacing a good Furnace. When we do finally have to replace our system, I know who we will be calling. Thanks for all your help, Kevin!

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Kevin at Northern Climate was great. We needed a clean, service and certify on our HVAC and he was able to provide all 3 services. Very reasonable prices in comparison to other companies without the corporate hassle. Provided me with great tips on our HVAC unit and was very honest. Definitely my new HVAC company.

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When our A/C unit stopped working, I called Scott that Saturday and gave him the info for a new unit (being 16 SEER) and asked for a price. He got back to me the same day. Price was great and he said he could be here on the following Monday afternoon. I provided Him with the key dimension for the top of our air handler an it was a go for the following Monday. Scott and son showed up earlier and went to work. By 7PM the house was cooler and Scott answered all our questions. With a 16 SEER unit, Xcel Energy will provide a rebate and the office followed up with the required paper work. Great working with NCC Team. David Ranger, From Centennial, CO

David Ranger

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Ian Kahn

Northern came out after we used Plumbline to do service on our A/C. They (plumbline) said we required hundreds of dollars in repairs. We had Northern come out and they found absolutely nothing wrong with our unit. Thank you for saving us hundreds in unnecessary repairs.

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