Water heater
Your home’s water heater is a low-maintenance workhorse, making it easy to forget to do the tasks needed to sustain it. Extend the life of this appliance and prevent a cold shower — or worse, a flooded home — by spending a few minutes checking it out each year. Today, we are going to complete a 5 minute safety and savings check.
With regular maintenance, you can expect a water heater to last between 8 and 12 years. If you’re not sure how old yours is or how much life it has left, we can help you figure that out by following the directions at the bottom of this 5 Minute Friday task!
Grab a bucket or large soup pot and head to your water heater.
First, complete a visual inspection of your water heater. Is the area immediately surrounding it clear of paper, dust, and other combustibles? Do you have earthquake straps securing your water heater — even if you live outside of an earthquake-prone area — to keep it from falling or being knocked over? If you have a gas water heater, do you have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, and has it been tested recently? Completing this 30-second safety check can help you identify hazards.
Next, it’s time to do a 30-second money-saving scan. Is your water heater warm to the touch? If so, adding a water heater blanket or jacket could help reduce heat loss by up to 45 percent and could save you up to 16 percent off water heating costs.
Next, let’s do a safety check for your temperature pressure release valve. This valve is an important safety mechanism for your water heater that will release water to lower the pressure in the tank in case the temperature or pressure gets too high inside to prevent it from exploding.
Turn off the power to your water heater and shut off the cold water supply.
Locate your temperature pressure release valve on the side or top of the tank and place your bucket or pot under the pipe connected to it.
Lift the tab on the valve to release some water. Once it’s flowing, let go. If water keeps draining out, you will need to replace your pressure release valve.
If you have more than five minutes, now would be a good time to flush your water heater.
Is it time to replace your water heater?
While your water heater will give you clues that it’s time to replace it — such as rusting, either on the tank or in the water, odd noises, or leaks — sometimes your only hint before it dies is its age. The average lifespan of a traditional tank water heater is between 8 and 12 years. A tankless water heater can last up to 20 years. If your water heater is reaching the end of its useful life, it might make sense to go ahead and replace it rather than be caught by surprise one morning in the shower.
Are you unsure of your water heater’s age? Fill out the form below and we will email you your water heater’s expected useful life and add this information to your Househappy account for your future reference.
