How to Maintain Your Hot Water Heater
Hot water heaters are an essential part of your Tulsa home. Do you know how to care for yours? They can be the appliance you forget about. They are tucked away in a closet somewhere in your house and just kind of exist there, unattended to. As with anything else in your home, we know that the better you take care of your things, the longer they will last. With that being said, we will go over some essential facts and need to know items in regards to maintaining your hot water heater.
- The thermostat on your hot water heater should be set at 120 degrees.
- There is a vacation setting on most heaters which allows you to conserve energy if you are out of town.
- Hot water heaters should last between 8 and 12 years.
- Even though most are in cramped closets, there should be around 2 feet of clear space surrounding the appliance.
- You can drain and clean your water heater every year for optimal use. This can clear up debris, rust, and bacteria build up within your tank. There is a drain valve at the bottom of the tank. When cleaning the tank, remove the drain valve too and clean it. Post cleaning, you will know the tank is good to go when the water runs clear.
- Test your TPR valve. The TPR valve is the temperature pressure relief valve. There is a test lever attached to the appliance. You can raise and lower the lever until it lifts up the brass stem. The end of the drainpipe should have hot water rushing quickly out of it. Therefore, if you only see a small amount of water, this indicates that you need to replace the valve.
- The most important part of testing the TPR valve is to make sure you do not have a leak. Sometimes, debris can build up and cause this to function improperly.
- Once you have owned your hot water heater for over 10 years, be prepared to replace the unit.
This How to Maintain Your Hot Water Heater information is brought to you by: Tom and Bev Herring, buying and selling Tulsa Real Estate, Broken Arrow Real Estate, Jenks Real Estate, Bixby Real Estate and Owasso Real Estate as well as Keystone Lake Real Estate, Berryhill and Sand Springs Real Estate.
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Also posted at www.tomandbev.info
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