Electric Hot Water Heater Maintenance Tips

Every year, check the pressure relief valve. Every water heater is different, so you may have to check the manual to find out how to do it or call in a plumber who does water heater repair often.

Two times a year, drain some water out of the unit. Use a bucket to catch all the water that comes out. It will be full of sediment, and if you don’t drain the water regularly, then that sediment will stay inside the unit and cause serious problems if it is allowed to build up over a long period of time.

Check the insulation around the unit every few months. It is always a better deal to wrap your water heater with insulation, especially if it is an older unit. This will help keep the water warm so that the system does not have to run as much, thus lowering your electricity bill a bit. Every time you check the insulation, make sure that it has not slipped and started to bur the exhauster or the inlet vent, which could cause a fire.

Nearly after each half a year, check on the temperature gauge. Consult with a professional to learn the best setting for your unit, but in general anything above 120 or 140 degrees Fahrenheit is too high. You could be wasting electricity and increasing the likelihood that if a malfunction happens, scalding water instead of ice cold water will be the result.

Look closely at the exhaust stack about once a year. Just do a visual scan to make sure that all of the connections are secure and that there do not seem to be any leaks. Look for signs of corrosion and rust.

Flush the water heater about once a year or more often if you have water with a high level of minerals in it. It is advisable that you have a professional assist you with this because it can be quite a complicated process, depending on which brand you have. This step should happen in addition to draining the unit every six months because flushing it will clean it out more thoroughly thus extending the life of the unit and also making it work more efficiently.