The hot water system in your home is essential for the comfort and health of your family. Therefore, you must ensure that the appliance is functioning as designed and expected. If your hot water system fails, numerous functions in your home such as showers and laundry machines will be retarded. On the other hand, proper maintenance of your water heater will promote optimal performance and efficiency for your applications. Also, the tasks will ensure that you enjoy a long service life.

Here are some basic maintenance guidelines to prevent premature failure.

Inspect the Heating System

You should inspect your water heater system on a regular basis. This process is essential in identifying the problems in functionality before escalation. If the issues are in the early stages of development, you will reduce your repair expenses, and there is a higher chance of complete restoration. Ideally, you should check the tank and other connected components for cracks and general signs of wear. Leaks can occur due to these forms of degradation, so you should perform repairs before this happens. You should also check the relief valve and ensure that it is working correctly. This component is essential for regulating pressure. If it is blocked, there will be no channel for excess pressure release. 

Replace the Sacrificial Anode

If you have a hot water system with a tank, you should ensure that there is a sacrificial anode installed in the container. This component is designed to protect the tank structure from corrosion. In simple terms, if a metallic container is in constant contact with water, it will experience gradual wear. The sacrificial rod is inserted into the tank and allowed to corrode in place of the tank, prolonging the hot water system lifespan. Unfortunately, if the anode wears away, the protection will be gone. You must replace the rod as recommended by the water heater tank manufacturer for optimal results. 

Clean the Hot Water Tank

Finally, you should clean your water heater tank periodically. This procedure is crucial because sediments tend to build up at the bottom of the container. The build-up can be attributed to the source of water and corrosion residue from the sacrificial anode. If the sludge is retained in the tank, the hot water system will become inefficient. Also, the sediments will stress the structure, accelerated degradation. To clean the tank, you will only need to drain the tank and flush it. If you are uncertain about the right draining procedure, consult a professional plumber.