Your water heater works tirelessly to ensure the dishes get clean and your showers are comfortable. However, while this appliance is often reliable, it's still prone to malfunctions. Below are a few tips to minimize the pressure on your water heater and avoid running out of hot water.

How to Maintain Your Water Heater

1. Insulate Exposed Pipes

Pipes under the house or ones that run through exterior walls lose heat when the temperature begins to drop. On extremely cold fall nights, the water inside the plumbing can freeze and cause the pipes to burst. Wrapping the plumbing system in foam insulation will prevent the flowing water from freezing overnight and causing leaks that could potentially lead to mold growth. When insulating the pipes, make sure to secure them with outdoor tape that is water-resistant so it holds up throughout the season.

2. Clear Out Sediment

Rust, dirt, and other debris inside the tank can collect on the coils, eventually causing them to burn out. The beginning of the fall is an excellent time to clear out the tank by turning off the breaker and draining about 25% of the water into a bucket. This helps remove much of the sediment that collects at the bottom of the container.

3. Use a Heater Blanket

Basements and garages tend to be cooler than the rest of the house, which means the heater has to work harder to keep the water supply warm. Many hardware and plumbing supply stores offer heater blankets designed to keep cool air off of the appliance.

4. Minimize Hot Water Usage

Several showers back-to-back or running the washing machine and dishwasher at the same time can quickly consume all the hot water. Spacing out your water usage, taking shorter showers, and using one appliance at a time will give the water heater a chance to keep up with the household demands.

Since 1966, the team at A&B Heating & Air Conditioning has been keeping homes throughout Burlington, KY, comfortable. Their technicians are licensed in both Ohio and Kentucky and provide water heater services to residents in the tri-state area. They have been recognized by American Standard® for their exceptional track record in customer satisfaction and referrals. Visit their website to browse their services or call (859) 525-0100 to schedule a water heater inspection.