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Spring 2012

How to extend a life of a water heater

To avoid having to pay for replacing your water heater, your best course of action is to take care of the water heater you have. Many homeowners forget about this simple part of household maintenance, probably because water heaters are so often out of sight that we take them for granted. For a simple start on water heater maintenance, try this three-step annual routine:

1. Lower the temperature on your water heater to somewhere between 115 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is more than adequate for all household functions, and it will keep the water heater from overheating. Locate the knob on your unit (refer to the manual or manufacturer website if you have trouble) to dial it down. You’ll never notice the difference in temperature, but your water heater will have to work less and your energy bills will be lower.
2. Test the temperature and pressure valve by lifting the valve lever part of the way up, then allowing it to snap back into place. This should be followed by a gurgling sound as water is briefly released from the tank into the drain tube. If not, the valve may need to be replaced.
3. Flush the tank on a smaller scale. Rather than doing a full flush of the water heater, you can do a smaller one in much less time. To do this, just put a bucket under the drain valve and release the valve. When the bucket is full, close the valve back up and drain the bucket outside or into a sink. This will help get rid of sediment, but takes much less time than draining the whole tank.

It is also recommended that you get a professional inspection of your water heater on a regular basis, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. This three step plan is a good interim measure, however, and it only takes a few minutes each year.

Emergency Plumbing Tips

What do you do in the event of a plumbing emergency, if say your toilet starts leaking or a pipe bursts? Of course you should call a plumber, but in the event a plumbing emergency happens to you, there are some important steps you can take when the plumber hasn’t arrived yet.

Stopping the Flow of Water

Your number one priority should be to stop the flow of water from whatever pipe, appliance or device is leaking. For all non-drain leaks this means turning off the main water valve, usually located just outside or just inside your home at the meter. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with the water valve and how to turn it off during a non-emergency situation so you can react more quickly when there is a real problem.

Second, once the water stops flowing to your home, find the specific problem. For example, if it turns out the problem is your toilet, there should be a shutoff valve behind the toilet that will stop all water flowing to the toilet. These valves exist for most water-using fixtures in your home – including sinks, your bath tub, the washing machine and the water heater. Simply turn off that valve and you can turn your main water valve back on.

A note here – if water is leaking from a water line or pipe, it is best to leave that main supply valve off for now. A plumber can trace the pipes and find the source, but to avoid additional damage, your best course of action is to leave everything off. Additionally, if there is standing water at all in your basement or another room of your home, turn off the electricity. Electrocution is a very real risk whenever standing water and live electrical sockets are involved.

Clear Away Valuables

Only once the water is turned off (and possibly the electricity, if necessary) should you start moving away your possessions and cleaning the mess. The plumber will arrive soon and can assess the damage but don’t expect that it will be fixed right away. Keep down any towels used to absorb the water and clear away anything you want to protect in case the problem recurs. A plumbing emergency is a stressful event – by remaining calm during one you can reduce the damage done and prepare the area for a plumber to make repairs as quickly as possible.

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