A water heater does not always leak so badly, sometimes it is just a trickle. Still, it requires immediate attention. It is prudent to fix the water heater leaking before it causes property damage and results in a lot of expenses. Regular water heater maintenance can prevent such untoward incidents but they still can and do occur.

A close inspection of the water heater should reveal the source of the problem. The leakage could be due to a rupture in the water tank or it may be the fittings and pipes that are leaking. This can be evaluated if we first understand the build of a hot water heater. The outer metal tube is connected to water pipes and an energy source such as gas or electricity. Most cases of water heater leaking are caused by rusting or wear and tear of the outer metal body. In this case, you will need to replace it as it cannot be repaired. The actual water tank is inside this casing. The water tank is located inside the outer tube. The tank is highly durable but still occasionally ruptures. A ruptured water tank cannot be repaired and will require a water heater replacement. In case the tank is sealed, the piping or pressure relief valve may be the culprits. You may be able to fix this yourself.

Fix Water Heater Leaking Yourself

First gather all the tools that you may require such as wrenches, plumbing thread etc… Always make sure the work area is clean and safe. Now turn off your water heater. Make sure that everyone is aware that you are working on the water heater so that nobody accidentally turns the water heater on. After closing the water inputs, drain the tank. Wipe and dry all the fitting with a cloth. Check the pressure release valve and if found faulty, replace it. Next, tighten all the fittings and check pipes for leakage. Now turn on the water heater to check if the leakage has stopped. You may have saved yourself the cost of a repairman in case the leakage has stopped!

Sometimes no amount of repair work seems to help in stopping the leakage. This may indicate the need for a replacement. Just like all other appliances, hot water heaters too need to be replaced occasionally. You may want to get the opinion of a professional before declaring the water heater dead. Once it is confirmed that the water heater has reached the end of its usable life, hire a professional to install a new hot water heater. He may be able to salvage the old fittings and pipes as well. If you feel like you can do this yourself, then read on and replace your water heater yourself.

First remove the old heater by disconnecting the power source and other pipes. It will be much easier if your new water heater uses the same power source otherwise a professional will be required for installing it. Check the old pipes and fitting and see if they need to be replaced as well.

You will need to consult the installation diagram that will come with your new hot water heater. Once you are sure that everything has been done according to the instructions, turn on the power source and water supply and give it a trial run. In case everything goes smoothly, you have once again saved the cost of hiring a repairman by performing water heater maintenance yourself. The above mentioned steps will ensure your water heater leaking problem is solved.

Even though all information in this post is accurate to the best of our knowledge, it is our strong opinion that only a professional should perform maintenance activities on hot water heaters.
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Hot water heating system maintenance is a very simple task yet many people do not know about it or simply ignore it. You can extend the life of your water heater by following simple routine tasks such as flushing the tank to remove the sediment build-up.  This water heater maintenance task on its own will add a couple of years to your appliance’s life.

The truth is that water heaters have to face the highest wear and tear because they are running all the time. The water heater tank is corroding twenty-four hours a day due to the minerals and chemicals present in the water supply. These chemicals and minerals settle inside the tank and lead to a slimy sediment build-up due which your water heater suffers from reduced efficiency and corrodes the tank ultimately leading to leakages.

Follow the below mentioned steps to flush the sediment build-up out of your water heater:

First collect all the tools required for the job. They include a garden hose, a screwdriver, a pair of pliers and a cloth. You may want to consider keeping a dedicated hose attached to the water heater at all times. This will enable you to simply unroll it every time you want to drain the tank instead of bringing a garden hose inside your house every couple of months. Your drain valve will also last longer as you won’t have to repeatedly take the hose on and off.

Begin the maintenance procedure by shutting off the power supply to the water heater. Your electrical panel should have a breaker for your heater. Mark it so that you can easily identify it next time.  Now attach the water hose to the drain valve located near the bottom of the tank. Make sure to properly tighten the hose on the valve because the water flushing out will contain lots of sediments and minerals and it will create a huge mess should the hose come loose.  Put the other end of the hose where water can easily drain away such as a sink.

Depending on the make and model of water heater, there may be a handle to open the drain valve or you may have to do it using a screwdriver. Once you have it opened, let the water drain for about fifteen minutes.  You will see lots of dirt and grime flow out with the water. Wait until clear water starts flowing out. Now close the valve and detach your hose. Let the water drain from the hose completely before storing it away.

Now turn on the power and water supply to your water heater. It will take a couple of hours for water to return to its proper temperature.

This simple water heater maintenance procedure, if performed regularly, will save you thousands in the long run. Regular flushing can easily extend the life of your hot water heater to at least fifteen years.

Even though all information in this post is accurate to the best of our knowledge, it is our strong opinion that only a professional should perform maintenance activities on hot water heaters. Click here to get FREE Water Heater Maintenance Quotes

The most vital aspect of preventive maintenance is ‘retrofitting’. This can save you a lot of money which you might have had to spend on buying a new water heater along with the associated plumbing costs. Retrofitting involves changing the anodes when required, reducing sediment build-up and using other techniques which you can do at home yourself without calling a plumber.

The most important part of retrofitting is replacing the water heater anode before it is completely consumed or adding a second anode to the water heater. It is advisable to add a flush kit and regularly flush you water heater if you live in a hard-water area.  The second part of retrofitting is checking and replacing the temperature and pressure relief valves frequently. These valves are prone to failure but are easily and cheaply available.

Checking and occasionally replacing the sacrificial anode rod will extend the life of your water heater. These rods corrode gradually and protect the exposed steel inside the water heater. Their rate of corrosion varies greatly across the country and mostly depends on the water quality. However, it can be safely assumed that they do not last longer than five to six years. The anode will require more frequent replacements in case you soften your water as the salt speeds up the corrosion process. Magnesium anodes are preferred over aluminium ones as they are less reactive and protect the tank better. Aluminium rods generate a lot of sediment as a by-product of corrosion which layers at the bottom of the tank.

If you live in a hard water area, you will face a lot of sediment build-up no matter how frequently you flush your tank or follow other water heater maintenance procedures. This is because the minerals in hard water settle at the bottom when heated. This happens mainly because the bottom is dome shaped. When you flush the tank, the sediment remains there while all the water drains out. This causes a lot of trouble such as burning out the element, slowing heat transfer, etc…

The only thing that works with the sediment build-up is the curved dip tube. The original dip tubes in your water heater which bring cold water to the bottom of the tank for heating are straight. By replacing it with a curved dip tube and a brass ball-valve drain assembly, you can make sure the sediment always drains out with the water. The dip tubes in general are weak and break easily. So check them first the next time you feel your water heater is not properly providing hot water.

The temperature and pressure relief valves can be installed in different ways and you might require the services of a plumber if you decide to replace them. If it has been installed with thread seal tape, it will easily unscrew from the tank. However, it may be installed with soldered copper piping or through a wall outside. In this case, the drain line will have to be cut before you can unscrew the temperature and pressure relief valve. To test that it is working properly, pull on the handle, hold it for a few seconds and let go.  Water should flow through when you raise the handle and stop when you let go. In case the valve doesn’t let water through or won’t stop running or keeps dripping, it requires a replacement.

This concludes water heater preventive maintenance. Regularly check your water heater for leaks or other faults as they can cause a lot of damage if left unattended.

Even though all information in this post is accurate to the best of our knowledge, it is our strong opinion that only a professional should perform maintenance activities on hot water heaters. Click here to get FREE Water Heater Maintenance Quotes

Despite being the most dangerous type of water heater, they are the most common type found in houses these days. This is due to the fact that they heat water twice as fast but cost only half as much to operate compared to other types of water heaters.

There have been many technology advancements in gas water heaters in the past few years which have made them much more efficient. However, they still require proper maintenance for their long life. Gas water heater maintenance is similar to other types except for a few different steps which are mentioned ahead.

Begin water heater maintenance by checking that the burner area is receiving sufficient airflow. You need to visually inspect the pilot light and burner through the site glass. Consult the owners’ manual to identify what a proper burning pattern should look like. Also always make sure that there are no flammable materials near your gas water heater.

Another routine water heater maintenance task that you need to perform atleast once every two weeks is to inspect your venting and other connections located at the top of the heater.

Turn off the gas supply to the water heater and check to see that the pilot light burns out. This confirms that there is no gas trapped in the burning chamber. Now close the feed line valve and attach a hose on the drain valve. Put the other end of the hose in a sink or any other place where hot water can be safely drained. In case there is no sink nearby, you can leave the hose outside so that the water can drain outside in the driveway.

Now open a hot water faucet in the house. This will prevent the vacuum effect in the water lines. Now slowly open the drain valve. Check to see if the hose is leaking. In case you find that the hose is leaking, close the drain valve, tighten the hose and open the drain valve again. Wait until all water is drained out of the tank.

Now open the feed line valve to flush out any sediment deposits that may have built up in the bottom of the tank. Wait until clear water starts to come out of the hose before closing the drain valve. Now you should remove the hose from the heater and let excess water drain from it before storing it away. Also clean any spilled water and remove all tools from the area.

Now turn on the gas supply and ignite the pilot light. Check your owners’ manual to see if there are any maintenance steps required specifically by your manufacturer. Once the pilot light is on and the water is heated, the gas water heater maintenance process is complete. As always, follow proper safety precautions while working on your gas water heater.

Even though all information in this post is accurate to the best of our knowledge, it is our strong opinion that only a professional should perform maintenance activities on hot water heaters. Click here to get FREE Water Heater Maintenance Quotes

The only drawback of tankless water heaters is the slow flow rate of water. Tankless water heaters have a considerably low flow rate of around 2-5 gallons/minute in contrast to other types of water heaters. However, if you perform regular tankless water heater maintenance, the flow rate will remain sufficiently high.

If maintained properly, tankless water heaters can last anywhere between 20-25 years whereas other traditional storage water heaters have a life of only 10-15 years.

There are two types of tankless water heaters; electric water heaters and gas water heaters. Gas water heaters have a higher flow rate but some home owners avoid gas-based appliances due to safety issues. For them, electric water heaters do the job perfectly.

The first and most frequently performed step in tankless water heater maintenance should be to check the inline filter. Sediments and dirt can get caught in this filter and lead to a slow flow of water. This may lead to damage if left uncared for.

Before you perform any maintenance, make sure the power supply is turned off. Close the feed line valve once the power is off. Check the owner’s manual to find out how to clean the inline filter for your specific make of tankless water heater. Follow the instructions to clean the inline filter.

When you remove the inline filter, some water is bound to drain out. So make sure you have a bucket beneath when you remove the inline filter. Clean the filter using a burst of fresh water and remove any debris or dirt attached to it.

Once the filter is satisfactorily clean, reinstall it and turn the water back on. Make sure that the filter is not leaking. Once you are sure everything is in proper place, turn on the power supply to your tankless water heater.

Another important part of tankless water heater maintenance is to flush it frequently. You can do this by attaching a hose to the drain valve and flushing it with fresh water. This will definitely increase the life of your water heater by removing any corrosive or damaging sediments and debris that may still be present inside.

Always read the owner’s manual before you handle your tankless water heater. There are always some specific tasks that each manufacturer specifies. In case you are unsure about performing tankless water heater maintenance yourself, call a professional and observe what he is doing. Ask him any questions you have and make a mental note of all the steps he followed. You will be ready to do any future maintenance tasks yourself armed with this knowledge.

Even though all information in this post is accurate to the best of our knowledge, it is our strong opinion that only a professional should perform maintenance activities on hot water heaters. Click here to get FREE Water Heater Maintenance Quotes

In many ways solar water heater maintenance is similar to other types of water heater maintenance. The only difference is that we have to perform maintenance tasks on the power supply as well.

Solar water heater maintenance should begin with the solar equipment. Check to see that none of the solar panels are blocked from sunlight due to any obstruction. You will need to check this in the morning, at noon, in the afternoon as well as before sunset. If you find that the solar panels are being obstructed at any point during the day, either remove the obstruction permanently or move the solar panels so that they are no longer blocked from sunlight.

Solar panels perform best when they are clean. So remove any dust and dirt that may have accumulated on the panels along with leaves or other debris that may have flown with the wind onto the solar panels.

Now we need to check the plumbing and wiring connections to see if there are any loose wires or any other type of electrical malfunctioning. You may want to contact your local electrician for this step if you are not familiar with solar panels. Also make sure that none of the water fixtures are leaking at this point and if they are, tighten them or replace them.

Go through the owner’s manual before you do solar water heater maintenance to see if there are any specific requirements by the manufacturer. You can hire a professional to do the maintenance the first time and you can observe and follow the steps taken so that you can do it yourself in the future.

Turn off the power supply to the tank. Fix a hose on the drain valve and put the other end of the hose into a sink. Now open the drain valve and empty the tank. You may want to first open the valve gradually to check if the hose is leaking. In case it is, close the valve, tighten the hose and open the valve again.

Once the tank is drained, run water through it to remove any sediment build up near the bottom of the tank. Once the water starts running out without any obstruction and without any dirt, you will know that the tank is clean. You can now remove the drain hose and turn the feed line on. Fill the tank with water and turn on the power supply to the solar water heater.

It is important to perform regular solar water heater maintenance so that your solar water heater may last a very long time and help you save on utility bills for many years to come. More and more people are shifting to solar water heaters due to their long life, ease of use and low running costs.

Even though all information in this post is accurate to the best of our knowledge, it is our strong opinion that only a professional should perform maintenance activities on hot water heaters. Click here to get FREE Water Heater Maintenance Quotes

Start by turning off the power supply from the breaker box. The inside of the breaker box should have a proper diagram showing which breaker corresponds to your electric water heater. You should consult with an electrician in case things are not clear at this point. All breakers should be labelled properly as a safety measure.

Once the power supply is off, turn off the feed line valve going into your electric water heater. Next, fix a hose to the drain valve. The drain valve is situated at the bottom near the thermostat. Now turn on a hot water faucet inside the house. This will prevent the vacuum effect when you drain your electric water heater tank. Open the drain valve to begin draining the tank. The other end of the hose should be in a sink or drain to make sure the hot water safely exits your house. You can drain the water outside if a sink is not available nearby. You should open the drain valve gradually to let the hot water drain out. This will ensure that the hose does not leak. In case you find that the hose is leaking, close the valve, re tighten the hose and open the valve again. Wait until all the water drains out.

Once all the water has drained, turn on the feed line while keeping the hose still fixed. This will help remove the sediment deposit left in the water heater tank. Close the feed valve once clear water starts coming out of the hose. You can also close the drain valve now and remove the hose. Let the hose drain out all water before you put it back in. Also remember to close the hot water faucet in the house that you had turned on earlier.

Wait until the tank is full before you turn the heater back on. The element may be damaged if you turn on an electric water heater before the tank is full.

The next step is to test the pressure release valve. Your electric water heater manual will have details regarding this step based on the make and model of your heater. In case you have misplaced the manual, just search online for your particular model and you will find the necessary information.

Proceed to turn on the water heater from the breaker once the tank is completely filled with water. It may take some time for the water to heat back up. Test the pressure release valve and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

This completes the electric water heater maintenance process. The above mentioned directions, if followed properly, will have your electric water heater running like new. Always follow proper safety procedures when working with your water heater. Now you can remove any tools that may be lying around and wipe the area clean of any water that may have spilled.

Even though all information in this post is accurate to the best of our knowledge, it is our strong opinion that only a professional should perform maintenance activities on hot water heaters. Click here to get FREE Water Heater Maintenance Quotes

Water heater maintenance draining is a simple task. You can either call the plumber to do it or you can do it yourself by following the below mentioned instructions.

Start by shutting down the water heater’s heating element. In case it is a gas heater you can switch the thermostat to ‘pilot’ mode. If it is an electric water heater you should turn off the circuit breaker.

Locate the shut off valve which is a copper pipe at the top of the tank. Turning this off stops water supply to the tank.

Every water heater has a drain valve situated at the bottom of the tank. Attach the end of a garden hose on to the valve and drop the other end into a nearby drain or sink. You can also let it drain outside the house.

When you release the drain valve, dark rust coloured water will drain out from the hose. This is the water mixed with sediments. After some time the draining water will turn clear.

Once clear water starts to come out of the hose, close the drain valve.

Now turn on the water supply and wait for it to fill the tank.

Now you can turn the power back on or in case of gas water heater, the gas supply. The water heater maintenance draining procedure is now complete and the water heater is now ready to use.

Even though all information in this post is accurate to the best of our knowledge, it is our strong opinion that only a professional should perform maintenance activities on hot water heaters. Click here to get FREE Water Heater Maintenance Quotes

One of the advantages of hiring a professional is that you can watch and learn from them by following them as they perform their duties. You should also ask any questions that you may have about water heater maintenance and write down their answers for future reference. This way, you will not have to rely on paid services for any future maintenance work.

Following proper safety procedures and precautions is very important when handling water heaters as improper or careless use may not only damage your property but it can also cause serious personal injury as well. You should read the owner’s manual before attempting any maintenance or repair work on your own. You can find instructions for proper water heater maintenance on this website for all the different kinds of water heaters available in the market.

Each type of water heater has its own maintenance page on this website which you can access by using the menu on the right. Identify which kind of water heater you possess and proceed to the corresponding page of this website to know more about the specific maintenance procedures.

However, there are some universal safety guidelines that you should follow irrespective of the type of water heater you own. You should never trade your safety in lieu of saving a couple of minutes. Follow proper safety procedures even if it means spending an extra 15 minutes on water heater maintenance. The following safety tips are applicable for any kind of water heater:

1. Always disconnect the water heater from the power source before performing any maintenance tasks. Unplugging the water heater will make sure that no power is flowing through it accidentally.

2. When your palm or fingers come in contact with a hot object, they instinctively close around it. In this case, you may end up grabbing onto a scalding hot metal pipe. Thus, always use the back of your hand to check if a surface is hot or if it is cold enough to touch. Water heaters are scalding hot so it is advisable to take proper precautions. Lightly tap the area with the back of your hand to estimate the temperature of the surface before you touch it.

3. Water heaters usually are kept in dark areas without proper lighting. People can avoid many accidents if they ensure proper lighting arrangements before undertaking any maintenance tasks. Make sure that the area is well lit before you begin water heater maintenance. In case proper lighting is not available, ask someone to hold a flashlight to illuminate the working area.

Now that you understand the proper safety guidelines to follow, you can use the menu on the right to choose the kind of water heater you have and learn more about water heater maintenance.

Even though all information in this post is accurate to the best of our knowledge, it is our strong opinion that only a professional should perform maintenance activities on hot water heaters. Click here to get FREE Water Heater Maintenance Quotes