With regular water heater maintenance, you can expect your unit to last anywhere from 8 to 12 years. A skilled plumber will perform a variety of tasks that help the system run more efficiently. Regular maintenance service can lead to noticeable savings on your utility bills. Several of the maintenance tasks will also help slow down the development of rust on the inside and outside of the unit. Keep reading to learn how.
Inspecting the Anode Rod
The anode rod inside your water heater is specially designed to attract the corrosive elements in the water supply that would otherwise attack the steel tank. As a result, the rod will eventually corrode or dissolve away over time. During maintenance checks, professional plumbers will inspect the rod to see how much of it has deteriorated. If it’s past the point of effective protection, they’ll replace it with a new one to ensure the component can effectively protect the tank from rust and corrosion.
Flushing Sediment From the Tank
Sediment naturally settles to the bottom of the water heater tank, developing a thick, crusty layer that traps intense heat directly against the steel base. But if the sediment layer is allowed to become too thick, it can crack the protective glass lining inside the tank. When this happens, it allows rust to aggressively attack the metal shell. During maintenance visits, a plumber will check to see whether the tank needs to be flushed to wash away the destructive deposits. This simple but essential form of upkeep helps the unit last longer and perform much more reliably.
Checking for Small Leaks
Another major benefit of regular maintenance is that it allows a plumber to catch small leaks before they increase the risk of corrosion. The last thing you want is for a microscopic leak to allow water to pool on top of the unit and trickle down the sides; this is a common contributor to rust streaks on the side or top of the tank. Usually, all it takes to fix a leak is tightening a loose connection or replacing a worn-out component. A plumber can easily perform this task during a maintenance visit.
Now that you understand why regular maintenance is so important for your water heater, it’s time to schedule an appointment. Most water heaters benefit from annual service visits unless you’re using one that is exposed to unusually hard water or heavy daily demand. In that case, you may need to book professional maintenance services every six months. If you live in Helena, MT or a surrounding area and need water heater services, make your first call to Big Sky.