Many people face unnecessary repair costs because they don’t take proper care of their water heater. If you follow a simple maintenance routine, you’ll be able to prolong its working life considerably, you’ll be safer in your home, and you reduce the potential costs of damage that would be caused by leaks. Here are some maintenance and safety tips for your water heater.
Know the What, Where, and When
Surprisingly, a lot of people don’t even know where their water heater is located within their property! Don’t be one of them — learn the what, where, and when of your heater. What brand, type, and model number is it? Where is it located? When was it installed? This is key information should you ever need to call a professional for advice or assistance.
Learn How to Shut the Heater Off
If you ever face problems with the heater, an emergency, or the need to carry out repairs, you’ll need to know both how to shut off the water and the power source to the heater. If you smell gas, you should shut off the power supply immediately — there should be a valve near the heater. The water valve, in most cases, is located on the cold water pipe going into the heater.
Keep the Area Clear
If you smell gas or notice a leak, you need to be able to reach the shut-off valves quickly. So now that you know where they are, make sure you have clear access to them at all times. Keep the area around your heater clear too. As well as being a potential fire hazard, a gas-powered heater needs oxygen, and so if the area around it isn’t clear and well-ventilated, it won’t work as efficiently. Furthermore, you might not see a problem like a leak if the area is cluttered.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is a plumbing company based in California. They service all types plumbing needs for the people of California, including water heater installation. You can also connect them on Facebook for more updates.
