4 Tips to Make Your Water Heater Last Longer
Posted on: 11 May 2015
If you have recently invested in a water heater, you probably want to ensure that it will last as long as possible. Water heaters often come with a five to 10 year warranty, but you can make your unit last even longer by taking good care of it. These are a few of the many things that you can do to extend the lifespan of your water heater.
1. Clean Your Tank Out Regularly
Many water heaters are self-cleaning, so check the owner's manual to determine if you will need to clean the tank yourself. If your water heater does not have this feature, take the time to drain your tank every year. Then, you can get rid of sediment, dirt, and debris that could cause clogs and other issues with your unit.
2. Install a Home Water Softener
The water that comes into your home probably has minerals in it. Although these minerals aren't harmful for you and your family, they can cause problems for your water heater and your plumbing. If you install a water softener, however, you can filter out the minerals in your water and prevent them from building up inside your water heater tank.
3. Use an Expansion Tank
Your water heater only holds a certain amount of water, and if your water heater is filled to capacity at all times, it has to work hard against the pressure that all of this hot water can create. By adding an expansion tank, you can give the water somewhere to go, which can help keep the water pressure inside your water heater at a lower level. This can help cut down on how hard your water heater has to work and can cause it to last for years longer.
4. Lower the Temperature
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that you lower your water heater setting to 120 degrees. By lowing the temperature of your water heater, you can lessen its workload, which could help it last longer. Plus, you're likely to save money on your monthly electric bill, and you'll reduce the chance of someone getting burnt.
As you can see, there are a few different things that you can do to make your water heater last for as long as possible. Follow these four tips, and you can make your water heater last for as long as possible without any major problems. Over the years, this can save you a significant amount of money in replacement costs.
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