Most homeowners will admit that they give little thought to their home’s water heater. As long as the hot water comes rushing out of the faucet or showerhead, they are content to let it do its thing without a care in the world. However, on that annoying day when you are forced to endure a cold shower, your attitude is likely to change significantly. As soon as your plumber asks when the unit was last serviced, you draw a blank and realize that this could be the reason you were turning blue in the shower. Now you suddenly have many questions about what service a water heater requires and what could have caused your to fail at such an inopportune time.
Just A Little TLC
When asked, your plumber will likely give you just the highlights of an annual water heater service call. But in reality, a licensed plumber will inspect all of the critical components of a water heater, including the gas supply line or electrical connection for an electric unit, the condition of the water heater holding tank, and the surrounding water lines and fittings. In addition, there are critical parts that will be inspected and tested, such as the heating element or thermocouple, the anode rod, the thermostat, drain valve, and pressure relief valve. These parts need to be functioning correctly to ensure that you have hot water and that your water heater is safe to operate.
One More Critical Task
In addition to checking out all of the parts of your water heater, your licensed plumber will also drain and flush the holding tank. This process is essential to ensure the proper function of the heating process and prevent damage from the buildup of minerals. In typical conditions, the tank should be drained and flushed each year. However, if you have mineral-rich water, hard water, it could be very beneficial to flush the tank every six months. The process involves draining the holding tank and then turning the water back on to flush any remaining sediment out of the tank.
Where Do The Minerals Come From?
All water contains trace amounts of minerals leached in as the water flows through the soil and rock. In some more mineral-rich areas of the country, the water picks up more minerals and is then referred to as hard water. As the water heats in the holding tank, the minerals settle to the bottom of the tank, forming sediment.
The Problem With Mineral Buildup
As the mineral buildup increases, it forms a layer that covers the water heater’s heating element. Unfortunately, that layer works as an insulator to hamper the heating element’s ability to heat your water. The result is a waste of energy when the heating element becomes overworked to heat the water through all mineral buildup. In addition, that added work takes years off its life. The simple solution is to drain and flush the sediment out of the tank to avoid harming your water heater.
Why Did You Take A Cold Shower?
By now, you are beginning to understand that ignoring your water heater for years is the reason for your cold shower. Unfortunately, the sediment caused the unit to fail prematurely. As a result, the money you might have saved by skipping that annual care will now be spent on a new water heater.
As soon as you notice a difference in your water heater’s performance, call (214) 388-4525. The licensed plumbers from Metroplex Leak & Locate will arrive quickly to correct the issue before you are facing a cold shower and a costly water heater replacement.
