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Home
> Troubleshooting
Water Heaters > Maintaining Water Heaters
Hot
Water
Heater Maintenance
How to maintain gas and electric water heaters for better performance, efficiency and longer life
Gas and electric water heater maintenance is very simple DYI project that doesn't require any special skills or tools. Maintenance is very useful operation so your hot water heater will perform like new, keep the efficiency and provide years of safe, worry-free and reliable work.
We recommend to use manufacturer's manual as it contains instructions for the installation, operation and maintenance of gas water heaters with the essential information and warnings you should know.
Example: It is recommended that a minimum clearance should be provided on the water heater side where TPR valve is installed (some manufacturers are suggesting 4 ").
In some installations you can do the frequent maintenance depending on the amount of use and the operating conditions of the water heater.
When removing some parts for the inspection precaution measures has to be taken; like with the manifold and burner assembly. Before performing any maintenance here, turn the temperature dial on the gas valve to its lowest setting and/or turn the gas off.
Gas Water Heater Maintenance - Vent System
You should inspect the venting system annually, at least once, to prevent potential Carbon Monoxide Gas leaking and breathing hazard. During this regular gas heater maintenance you should look for:
- Are venting pipes properly connected to prevent escape of gases?
- Obstructions that might affect the proper venting of the flue gases and air draw for gas combustion.
- Check are the proper clearances maintained from combustible materials and for proper venting.
- Damaged, sooted or deteriorated flue pipe as it can cause the leakage of products of combustion and improper venting.
- Rusted flakes in the area at the top of the heater.
- Remove any corrosive chemicals like waxes, bleach, spray can propellants, cleaning solvents, swimming pool chemical, located in the same room as water heater. Chemical corrosion of the venting system can be very dangerous.
Note: Do necessary operation like cleaning, repairing or replacing the venting system before resuming operation of the gas water heater.
Gas Pilot Burner
Preventive maintenance like visual inspection of the main burner and pilot burner should be done at least once a year.
- Check for any obstruction at the bottom of the water heater in area where the opening for air is located.
- Inspect the air intake screen (some models) and clean the accumulated lint, dust or oil.
- Clean orifices and related parts of any dirt and other foreign material.
- Use wire brush and clean the combustion chamber to remove scale deposits and debris.
- Check is there any products like gasoline, adhesives or solvents with potential flammable vapor present in the same room... remove it.
- Check for sooting as it might impair normal combustion (The fine black particles as a result of the incomplete combustion).
Anode Rod
Keep in mind that anode rod or usually called sacrificial anode is consumed during the time. If your water heater has more than one, you should inspect every single anode. Anodes are installed on the top of the heater and submerged into the water.
Some manufacturers recommend often inspection, annual checking is the most common, but it depends on water quality, like hardness, and usage of softener.
If during regular maintenance you notice that the steel core is exposed more than 6" either from the bottom or the top, middle of the rod is exposed or if diameter is less than half the original size, it is time to replace the anode rod.
TPR Valve
Schedule the maintenance once a year of the temperature and pressure relief valve. Recommendation is to check that the valve operates freely and has not become encrusted with lime. If it is leaking water you must replace it.
Lift the valve gently and then release it, the lever should return to its normal closed position. If it doesn't returns back, lift the TPR valve lever several times until the valve seats properly without leaking. Keep in mind that any released water is very hot.
If you have a closed water supply system and see periodical discharges on TPR valve, this may be due to thermal expansion and proper action has to be taken.
Sediments
Maintenance is also a way to save energy and reduce your bills. Since the fuel cost and hot water consumption are constantly increasing, deliming for example has become a necessity of modern maintenance. The more you heat more lime comes out. Since it is preventing normal heat transfer and decreasing the efficiency and performance, recommendation is to remove it by adding chemicals.
The water heater tank should be drained and flushed out once a year also. By flushing the water heater, sediments that are decreasing the performance and efficiency are removed. Drain a few quarts off the bottom of the tank, or suggested by the manufacturer and you may prolong life of the water heater. The drain valve is located at the bottom of the unit.
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