You may take hot water for granted until the hot water heater fails, then you experience the shock of an early morning cold shower. Calling a plumber for water heater repairs is an emergency situation that most people like to avoid. The most important part of owning a house is to keep up with water heater maintenance. While your favorite local plumber can be booked for water heater maintenance, you should also be aware of what needs to be done.
Check the Pressure Valve
Whether you own a gas or an electric water heater, they have a safety device that’s responsible for temperature and pressure relief. This is also called a T&P valve. If the tank becomes over-pressurized, this relief valve will open up and release pressure. But if it malfunctions, it can cause the tank to over-pressurize and explode. Your plumber will wear special protective gear and inspect this pressure valve carefully.
Flushing the Tank
Even though the city water department filters the water before it heads to your home, there can still be sediment, minerals, and debris in it. Over time, this can cause sediment buildup in your tank. This can affect your water heater’s efficiency, and clog your water lines. Each time the pressure relief valve is checked should also be a time when the water tank is fully flushed.
Check the Pilot Light
Only gas water tanks have pilot lights. One of the most common problems for a hot water tank is that the pilot light can go off. When the gas valve is set to the ON position, and the control knob set to PILOT, then you can press the knob and push the igniter button. The light will start blinking when it has successfully lit. You should see a small flame through the view panel. The temperature should be set to 120 degrees F. If your pilot light keeps going out, you may need water heater repair.
Check for Leaks and Drips
Just like with other appliances that utilize water, your water heater can also experience leaks and drips too. The most common problem is a faulty water supply connection. The supply should be inspected at regular intervals. One of the other regions that should be inspected include at the T&P, also known as the temperature and relief valve.
Electric Water Heater Problems
If your power has gone out for any length of time, it’s important to ensure that the water heater is completely filled, before turning the water heater power back on. Otherwise, the upper heating element will burn out, and you’ll need to hire a plumber to come in and replace it.
If you don’t feel confident in doing your own water heater maintenance or inspection, call Matt’s Plumbing Services to assist you. It’s important to do water heater repairs before a major tank issue occurs, like in the cold of winter, or when you have guests over. We look forward to meeting you soon.
