5 Maintenance Tips to Get My Water Heater Ready for Fall & Winter

Preparing your home for the colder fall and winter months is important for a variety of reasons. Mainly because maintaining your home’s plumbing system will ensure that you have access to clean, safe to consume water and that your water heater can supply you with hot, comfortable water whenever you need it.

Keep reading to see our top 5 ways that you can get your water heaterready for fall and winter:

Not only can insulating your water heater and pipes help keep your energy costs lowered during the cooler months, but it can ensure that you can enjoy hot water whenever you need it.

Insulating your tank means your system has to work less to heat your water and is less likely to shut down due to overworking. To do so, we suggest picking up a pre-cut insulation jacket from your local hardware or building supply store.

Periodically emptying out your tank can be beneficial because it will help remove any calcium and other minerals which may be present in your tank as the water inside your tank washes away. To empty your tank, first, shut off the power supply. Then, run a hot faucet for 10 minutes or so to lower the temperature inside the tank. After this step is complete, close the cold water valve and attach a garden hose to drain the leftover water into a floor drain.

Testing and inspecting your pressure relief valve can help prevent the buildup of rust and corrosion, which can cause your valve to seal shut. To check to see if your valve is working correctly, only lift the valve up and see if it also lifts up the brass steam attached to it. When you do this, hot water should flow out from your drainpipe, indicating that the value is working properly.

If your water heater has trouble adequately heating your water during the cold snaps which can be common during the winter months, then it’s perfectly acceptable to turn up the temperature inside your tank by a few degrees. Most tanks should sit at around 140 degrees, so adjust it up an additional 5 to 10 is all that’s needed to ensure that you have hot water all season long.

The anode rod is an integral part of your water heater because it is tasked with attracting elements like calcium and other minerals which would otherwise stick to the insides of your tank and cause it to corrode from the inside out. Make sure to inspect your anode rod before the beginning of every season to see if it needs to be replaced.

Enjoy reliable and high-quality plumbing solutions when you call 404-524-1825 to reach the experts at Plumb Works in Atlanta, GA today.