Paying more than you have to for a furnace, heater, or hot water is the same as pouring energy dollars down the sink. In this article, you’ll find hands-on advice about how to maintain your water heater for no cost, meaning a more economical and ecological way of heating water.
Over time, you can expect your energy savings will more than repay your initial labor investment.
Water Heater Maintenance
Keeping your water heater free of buildup and sediment will make it work more efficiently, and this is especially important if you live in an area with hard water. Because hard water is laden with minerals, these can build up in your heater and reduce its efficiency.
Keeping your water temperature below 120 degrees will slow sediment accumulation, and the water will be typically hot enough for most household purposes (unless you love a scalding shower). Dishwashers often require hotter water, but most contemporary dishwashers come with their own internal heaters that can raise the temperature of the water to the 140 degrees they need.
Eliminating Sediment
To drain sediment out of your water heater, start by turning off the water supply to the heater at the cold water intake or at your home’s main shut-off valve. If you have a gas-fired heater, turn the temperature knob all the way to OFF and then close the gas supply valve to the gas line. If you have an electric water heater, simply turn off the electricity at the main service panel.
Next, attach a length of garden hose to the heater’s drain valve and run it to a floor drain in your basement or outside (but below the level of the heater). If you don’t have a long enough hose, place a bucket or tub under the drain, but be prepared to stop and go as you empty the buckets.
Open the heater’s drain and a close faucet for hot water to let air into your water system. The water will begin coming out of the valve. Once the water starts running clear, you can close the valve. If the water still runs cloudy for an extended period of time, turn on the supply valve for the cold water to flush out any remaining sediment.
When you’re done, close the drain valve and shut off the nearby hot water faucet. If you haven’t done so already, reopen the cold water supply valve to refill the tank. Once the tank is full and you can no longer hear water running into it, turn on the power by either restoring electric power or opening the gas line and reigniting the pilot light. To keep sediment at bay, set your thermostat to below 120 degrees.