Hot Water Heater Tips

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

03 Feb 2009 08:42 AM

Maintaining your hot water heater now can save you a big surprise later. You don't want to have an unexpected flood in your basement (or wherever your heater is located). Nor do you want to be faced with a large bill for replacing the whole system when you aren't prepared. Losing hot water in the middle of winter could be a big problem!

If you have a hot water heater, you'll want to review the following tips.

Make it a point to check your hot water heater on a regular basis. Just a simple glance at it while you are already down in the basement doing laundry anyway can be an easy way of doing this.

With hot water heaters, there is generally a little bit of warning before a big problem. Little leaks often come before large blowouts. This means that wet spots may clue you in to a problem When you see wet spots or even leaks, it may indicate that there is a leak in a seal or that the tank itself is breaking down. It is better to spend a little more money now to replace an old system then it is to have to unexpectedly replace a system and deal with water damage to your home.

How long do water heaters last? In general as water heater will need to be replaced every eight to 15 years. You can replace your sooner, of course to take advantage of newer more efficient systems.

A good maintenance tip for your hot water heater is to drain just a little water from the tank every two to three months. This could extend the life of your hot water heater. Sediment tends to build up in the tank, and draining it off will make your hot water heater more efficient and less likely to fail.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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