4 Tips To Maintain Your Hot Water System In Good Condition 

Having hot water in your home is essential for various everyday activities. From when you wake up in the morning to shower until your last dishes are taken care of at night, hot water plays a role in them. This means that you must ensure you maintain your hot water system well.

With regular maintenance, your hot water system can last longer and operate at its optimum with less energy consumption. This can help you save on energy bills and costs for overhauling the whole system. Whether you’re using electric, solar, or gas, the overall care and maintenance are the same. Even if you have an instant heating system like the instant gas hot water system, you still need to accord the same tender loving care.

With that said, here are some tips to help keep your hot water system in good condition for a longer time:

Insulate The Heating Tank And The Pipes

Hot water loses heat as it flows through the pipes. This is especially so during the cold winter months. When this happens, your heating system has to work more to attain and maintain the temperature you set in the thermostat. This overwork increases the wear and tear on your heating tank and the hot water system.

Insulating the tank and the hot water pipes helps prevent heat from escaping, thus reducing the strain on your heating system. Additionally, insulating the pipes ensure that they aren’t exposed to colder temperatures. This avoids pressure buildup in the pipes that may lead to burst pipes. Likewise, freezing winter temperatures can freeze the water with the same damaging result.

You can use various insulating materials on the tank and the water pipes. You can either use polyurethane foam, fiberglass, or blankets made from ceramic fiber. However, it’s vital to consult your local plumbing company to know which suits your system best.

Flush The Heating Tank Regularly

Plumbing experts recommend draining the heating tank once or twice a year. The frequency can depend on your location due to the minerals and sediments in the water. Flushing the tank helps remove any sediment buildup in the tank, thereby maintaining its efficiency. This efficiency can also help keep the energy consumption low, reducing your energy consumption on aesthetic lights in the process.

Ensure you turn off the energy source first to flush the tank safely. Once finished, you can open the tap closest to the heating tank and let it run until there’s cold water. You can turn it off and the inlet faucet when you’ve got cold water. Open the outlet faucet of your tank and drain the tank until it’s empty. You can now repeat the process in reverse; turn off the outlet faucet and then turn on the inlet faucet. At this point, it’s critical to wait until the tank is full.

Before turning the energy source on, open the hot water taps in your home and let them run for a bit. This helps to release any trapped air during the flushing process. Turn the taps off, then proceed to turn on the energy source.

Set The Thermostat To Lower Temperatures

The default factory setting of most water heaters can be higher than you need. So, it’s vital to check this on your thermostat and lower this to a safer level. Apart from the dangers of causing scalds, high temperatures overwork your heating system as it takes longer to reach the set temperatures. A high temperature can lower the life span of your hot water system over time. It also lessens its energy efficiency, thus increasing your energy costs.

Do A Regular Inspection For Any Wear And Tear

Note that running hot water in your home also puts pressure on your heating system. Even though it’s built to withstand high temperatures, its quality can depreciate over time. Hence, it’s critical to schedule a regular inspection and ensure everything is still running efficiently. A typical recommendation would be to do this at least once a month. The inspection may take a few minutes only, but this can help save you from costly repairs in the long run. This is because it can spot leaks, cracks, and tears, which you can remedy before they worsen.

Besides, pay close attention to the temperature and pressure relief valve during these inspections. The ideal recommendation is to test it every six months to see if it’s working as it should.

Aside from your monthly inspections, it’s also best to schedule an annual professional inspection with your local plumbing company. What you may have missed during your routine inspection may be spotted by a professional at this point.

Overall, each of these inspections means that you can take care of minor repairs and replacements before they cause significant damage and cost you more. Furthermore, the professional can offer extra tips and recommendations to help care for your hot water system.

Conclusion

It’s crucial to have an efficient hot water system in your home, especially during the winter months and when handling greasy dishes. Keeping it in good condition ensures its efficiency and longer life span. It can also reduce your expenses on possible repairs and replacements in the future.