5 Steps to Increase Water Heater Efficiency This Spring
The busy spring season is upon us, and now is the perfect time to check in on your water heater and ensure it runs efficiently. Whether you own a traditional tank-style unit or a new tankless system, you can take some simple steps to ensure your appliance is in peak condition and ready to handle all of those long, hot showers.
Here are five tips for ensuring your water heater is in tip-top shape this spring.
1. Check the Anode Rod
The anode rod is a metal part inside the water heater that helps protect against corrosion from minerals present in hard water. Over time, the anode rod will rust away, and its effectiveness will decline, so it’s essential to check every few months to ensure it hasn’t broken down completely.
2. Flush out Sediment
Sediment buildup can occur over time due to calcium and other minerals found in tap water. This can cause problems like unpleasant odors, decreased efficiency, clogged pipes, and even premature heating element failure if left unchecked. To prevent these issues from happening, flush out the water heater once or twice per year using either plain hot or cold water—depending on which type of system you have installed.
3. Increase Tank Temperature
If you have a traditional tank-style unit installed in your home, increasing the temperature slightly (by around 10 degrees Fahrenheit) can help increase efficiency while keeping safety concerns at bay. Just ensure not to increase past 140 degrees Fahrenheit as temperatures above this could be dangerous for family members or pets who come into contact with hot surfaces within your home.
4. Insulate Hot Water Pipes
Another great way to improve energy efficiency is by insulating hot water pipes running through unheated areas near your water heater, such as basements or crawl spaces. However, do not pick up insulation material near flammable substances such as paint thinner or gasoline fumes!
5 . Check for Leaks
Finally, always watch for leaks from the connections between pipes leading in and out of your unit, as their presence could mean serious trouble if ignored for too long! Any leaking pipes should be repaired immediately so as not to cause further damage to your appliances and other areas of plumbing within the home!