| Every home will have a water heater. A water | | | | from breaking down. Basic maintenance can |
| heater is one of those conveniences that many | | | | actually be done in three simple steps which |
| of us take for granted. In fact, many of us do | | | | include:o Turn the temperature down - The |
| not stop to think about the heater unless there | | | | heater has a knob that controls the setting of the |
| happens to be no hot water or it suddenly stops | | | | temperature. Putting it at roughly 115 degrees will |
| working. Many people do not realize that there are | | | | not only reduce pressure on the heater, it will |
| steps they can take to ensure that is has a long | | | | save you some money.o Check the temperature |
| life. | | | | and pressure valve - this is done by raising the |
| How a Heater Works | | | | lever about halfway, then releasing it. A bubbling |
| There are a number of different types of water | | | | sound indicates that the valve is functioning |
| heaters available today. These include electric, | | | | properly. No sound means the valve is faulty and |
| tank-less, and gas water heaters, just to name a | | | | it should be replaced.o Flush the tank - this is not |
| few. Electric and gas heaters are the two most | | | | a big task and in fact does not involve removing |
| commonly types found in homes. They are very | | | | all the water. It can be done by releasing some of |
| similar in design, except that the electric water | | | | the water via the drain valve near the bottom of |
| heater has a heating element in the water tank. | | | | the tank. The valve itself may vary depending on |
| The gas water heater uses a burner at the | | | | the type of tank. Sometimes it is necessary to |
| bottom, and the exhaust is vented by a pipe that | | | | drain all the water, but a partial flash done |
| runs through the tank. | | | | occasionally can help to prevent your heater from |
| Cold water enters the tank near the bottom of | | | | breaking down. |
| the heater and the heating begins. As the water is | | | | Tank-less water heaters are becoming more |
| being used it is constantly replaced. The pressure | | | | popular simply because they are efficient and |
| valve is an essential feature that prevents excess | | | | require little maintenance. Checking the pressure |
| pressure from building up which can possibly | | | | valve and partial flushing should be done about |
| causing an explosion. Tank-less water heaters as | | | | every six months. Flushing helps to remove |
| the name implies, do not rely on stored water to | | | | sediments that may have settled at the bottom. |
| function. They work by directing water over the | | | | This helps to prevent rust, and it improves the |
| heating element, which then comes out the tap as | | | | tank's overall function. |
| hot water. | | | | So the next time you use your water heater, |
| Maintaining Your Heater | | | | remember that some maintenance that you can |
| Like so many other devices in the home, | | | | do yourself will extend the life of the heater. |
| maintenance is important to keeping your heater | | | | |