Winter & Your Water Heater

TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE VALVE (T AND P VALVE): Water heaters have a safety device called a Temperature and Pressure relief valve. If the tank overheats or overpressurizes, the T and P valve opens to relieve the pressure. If the valve doesn't work right, the tank could rupture or explode. That's why it's a good idea to check the T and P at least once each year.

THE ANODE ROD: An anode rod is a sacrificial metal rod that sits inside your water heater. It protects it from the corrosive minerals in your water. Your anode rod attracts those minerals and breaks down instead of the tank. If your anode rod dissolves, the minerals will go back to attacking the tank. That makes it important to check it every year to see if you need to replace it.

FLUSH THE WATER HEATER: Gravity pulls sand, minerals, and other sediments down to collect at the bottom tank. That sediment layer insulates the water and makes heating it take longer and need more fuel. It can also take up a lot of space, leaving less room for water to heat. A regular flush can solve a lot of those problems. In fact, keeping up with your flushes can sometimes double its lifespan!

SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE: Doing any one of the things listed above will help your water heater work better. But the way to help it work its best is to do them all at least once a year. You can try to do your regular maintenance yourself or you can call a licensed plumber to take care of it for you. Either way, keeping on top of it can save you thousands and help you enjoy these cold days a lot more.