Your water heater heats, stores and re-heats water to provide convenient hot water when needed, but it also stores mineral and sediment deposits that hinder efficient water heating. Learn how a little TLC can help your system provide hot water for less energy and last longer.
Water heater issues
According to Energy.gov, water heating accounts for a significant portion (18 percent) of the typical home’s energy bill. There is plenty of financial incentive to maintain the water heating system, in addition to water quality and system longevity in regards to costly repairs or early tank failure.
The amount of minerals and sediment in fresh water supply depends on the source and the hardness of the water. In the Los Angeles area, water is considered “hard” which means there is faster accumulation of minerals and sediment. As water is heated, impurities are separated from the water. Many of the impurities are attracted to the anode rod, which is designed to protect the tank lining from corrosion, but most of the leftover impurities sink to the bottom of the tank where the heating element (electric or gas burner) is located. Over time, water heating efficiency suffers, and energy bills increase.
Flush the tank
Basic water heater maintenance is a simple task for homeowners, which can reap substantial energy savings and extend the life of the water heater. Once a month, place a bucket beneath the water heater’s drain bib located at the bottom of the tank, and flush up to one gallon of water. Do not use the pressure-relief valve located at the top of the tank to flush water, or you may be scalded by hot water. Since minerals and sediment accumulate on the tank’s bottom, flushing the tank regularly removes these impurities and promotes efficient heating and tank integrity.
For more information about water heater maintenance and water heating efficiency, or other ways to save energy around the home, contact Around the Clock Air Conditioning and Heating. For more than 45 years, we’ve helped Los Angeles area homeowners with HVAC and water heating issues with quality service, repair and installation.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about water heaters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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