Even here in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area, nobody would want to be without the luxuriously hot water they’re all used to having, especially in the bathroom and shower.
Even a week without access to hot water would be considered a massive inconvenience to most people in America.
Whether they’re using a regular hot water tank or a newer tankless model, they’ll always prefer being able to switch quickly and comfortably between temperatures.
But no matter what kind of system you’ve got, you’ll definitely need to know how to maintain your water heater so that it lasts and provides you with relaxing showers and baths for as long as possible.
Of course, it’s always recommended to call a professional and let them do everything for you to avoid damaging anything.
But even if you do that, it’s still helpful to understand the fundamentals of how to maintain your water heater so that you can understand the explanations and instructions that the professional gives you.
What Type of Water Heater Do You Have?
Most people think that water heaters are all the same.
But there are actually several different types of hot water heaters out there, and they each require slightly different care.
So, to figure out how to maintain your water heater, it’s necessary to first determine what specific kind of hot water heater you have.
A traditional water tank heater will require a slightly different maintenance routine than a tankless or solar water heater.
And you’ll also have different considerations regarding exactly how to access your water heater to perform that maintenance.
For example, a solar water heater on the roof might be harder for you to get to than a traditional tank in your basement.
Are You Dealing With Electricity Or Gas?
Just as with the general type, you’ll also want to know whether your hot water heater is powered by electricity or gas.
The answer to this question will have a dramatic impact on how to maintain your water heater.
And we’re sure the reason for this is obvious.
But in case it’s not, electricity and gas both require entirely different skill sets to deal with safely and effectively.
In general, it’s not advisable to go messing with any fuel or power source on your own.
No matter how handy you are, play it safe and hire a professional.
Familiarize Yourself With The Main Components of Your Water Heater
The next thing you need to look into when learning how to maintain your water heater is the main components of your water heater.
Not all water heaters are created the same.
Even when they have the same primary components, those components might not necessarily be located in the same places or accessed in exactly the same way.
So, familiarize yourself with components and the locations they are most commonly found in.
Learn How To Tell When There Is Something Wrong
You will sometimes not know that there is a problem until it gets bad enough to require professional intervention.
However, there will often be signs you can spot if you know what to look for.
And if you catch those signs early enough, you can potentially save yourself a lot of money when it comes time to hire a plumber.
So, keep an eye out for changes in water color, leaks, inconsistent water temperature, visible corrosion on the exterior of your water tank, and other things that commonly indicate a problem with your hot water heater.
Buy Your Tools and Get Familiar With Them
Without the proper tools, you can’t perform routine maintenance or repairs on your hot water heater.
From hammers and screwdrivers to pliers and wrenches, you’ll want to gather up these tools and familiarize yourself with them so that you will know which tasks require which tools.
In addition to the standard tool set, you’ll also want to have some extras on hand, such as a bucket, duct tape, safety gloves, and eye goggles.
Remember that your tools are as much to keep you safe as they are to enable you to work more efficiently.
Your tools are your friends, so get comfortable with them.
Take Proper Safety Precautions
Your hot water heater is a metal device that rapidly heats (and often holds) water and is powered by either electricity or gas.
It goes without saying that this device can be dangerous if not handled properly.
So don’t start fiddling with it, trying to figure out how to maintain your water heater, without observing proper safety protocols and taking appropriate precautions.
This includes doing things like turning off the heat and letting the tank empty out before attempting to perform any maintenance on it.
However, it also includes wearing protective gear like safety gloves and goggles to protect your skin, eyes, and other vulnerable parts of your body from any accidental contact with hot water, metal, or other things.
Conclusion
This article has been a very basic guide.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough space or time to get into very detailed specifics regarding the step-by-step processes involved with performing routine maintenance and repairs on your hot water heater.
We may write another article about that in the future.
But the key takeaway from this article is that you are dealing with a device that exists to generate and retain high levels of heat.
Because of that, when you are learning how to maintain your water heater, it is vital that you perform any tasks in the proper way (don’t get creative or adventurous) and that you observe appropriate safety protocols while wearing protective equipment and using high-quality tools.
You don’t want anything breaking or splashing on you, especially if it comes into contact with exposed skin or your eyes.
However, as always, because attempting to repair or take apart a hot water heater can be dangerous, we recommend calling a professional plumber and hiring them to handle it for you.
And while you’re at it, schedule routine checks with them so they can run diagnostics and perform routine maintenance on your water heater at regular time intervals.
