5 ways to extend the life of your water heater – Water Heater Repair Gladwyne
- Water Heater Repair
The average life of a water heater is only six years. (depending on where you purchase 2-3). However when they are installed and maintained properly they can last a minimum of 15-20 years. So, what’s the trick?
You can extend the life of your water heater by knowing what makes it fail and performing a few simple checks and maintenance duties. The number one water heater killer is rust. There are several factors that speed up the rusting and corrosion process.
INSPECT THE ANODE ROD The sacrificial rod wears out. The purpose of the anode rod is to electrochemically corrode so the tank won’t. After the 4 year anniversary, this rod should be inspected and replaced if necessary (seek professional help with this one)
INSTALL DIE ELECTRIC UNIONS
Electrolysis from different types of metals such as copper and aluminum will create excessive rusting and corrosion. This problem can be eliminated by having a skilled technician install die-electric unions.
REMOVE SEDIMENT BUILD UP
Sediment buildup is caused when cold water is heated, turning minerals in the water into solids, which settle at the bottom of the tank. This problem can be avoided by draining the water heater every 6 months.
VISUAL INSPECTIONS
Rust and corrosion on the tank can cause water heaters to leak from the outside. Eliminate this problem by checking all connections for leaks – repair any bad connections.
INSTALL A LIME FIGHTER
This device is pretty neat because it requires zero maintenace, easy for most homeowners to install, and acts like a water filter (preventing harmful deposits from entering your tank.
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