These days, hot water has become part and parcel of our lives and we just can’t imagine living without it. Yet, we take it for granted until one fine day the hot water system stops working. Luckily, there are steps you can take to help maintain your hot water system in top working condition so that it serves you for years into the future. Here are three vital hot water system maintenance tips you need to follow:
- Knowing Your Hot Water System Type
Know your hot water system type – whether its continuous flow or storage tank system. As such, continuous flow hot water system doesn’t store any hot water, so they need less maintenance to keep functioning optimally. So, here we’ll discuss hot water system with a storage tank, as these need more of maintenance on an ongoing basis.
- Testing Your Hot Water Heater’s Temperature & Pressure Relief Valve
First, you should check your TPR (Temperature/Pressure-Relief) valve and if you find it working endlessly, then it’s a probable sign that it needs maintenance and is starting to worsen and may need to be replaced. Even if you notice any leaks in the area around TPR valve, then also you’ll need changing the valve. Well, the temperature and pressure relief valve (TPR or T&P valve) function to preserve the right level of temperature pressure inside your water storage tank. If the hot water system’s pressure is allowed to fluctuate, then it can place needless strain on the interior tank that can decline its structure eventually, resulting in cracks and other damage.
However, if the valve is not constantly working and that you find no leaks around the area, then it’s a good sign. Though it doesn’t guarantee that the valve is working appropriately, thus, you’ll need testing it to ensure its working as desired.
The standard norm is to inspect the valve every six months but this can vary across hot water system manufacturers. Make sure to protect yourself when testing the TPR valve, as very hot water will be released from your hot water storage tank.
To protect yourself from burns, ensure to put on long sleeves, pants, heavy gloves and closed shoes. Ensure that nothing is obstructing the end of the outlet pipe including you. And ensure to stand away to the side, as far off, from the pipe’s end, as is possible. For testing the valve, lift its handle with care. In case, the handle doesn’t move effortlessly, then don’t try to force it. Well, if the handle remains stuck and won’t move at all, then you’ll require replacing the valve.
If you’re able to lift the handle, then through the outlet pipe, hot water should start flowing.
Further, the flow of water should stop when you lower the handle to shut the valve. If the flow of water doesn’t stop, then the valve isn’t working appropriately and you’ll require replacing it.
Generally, the usable life of a TPR valve is around two years. However, if you need to replace the TPR valve of your hot water system, then it’s best to entrust the job to a licensed and expert plumber or other hot water servicing professional for your safety.
In any case, never try doing it yourself because working with a hot water system can be extremely risky if you don’t precisely know what you’re doing. And it involves working with electric energy or natural gas.
- Why Replacing Sacrificial Anode of Hot Water Heater is Important
A small metal rod that hangs down in the inside of your hot water storage tank is the sacrificial anode. Normally, these rods are manufactured from magnesium with a zinc coating or aluminium. They pull in minerals and other impurities in the water that can stick to your storage tank and make it rust.
The main purpose of fitting sacrificial anode in its place is to protect your water heater’s storage tank from rust; instead, the sacrificial anode rusts. Nevertheless, the sacrificial anode will weaken eventually. That means to safeguard your storage tank you’ll need replacing the sacrificial anode periodically.
Again, it’s imperative to call a reputed hot-water heater service to replace the sacrificial anode of your hot water system. This will ensure you don’t put your safety in jeopardy or cause harm to your property. This replacement will be required once every five years.
Final Words
When you carry out this regular maintenance, you can prolong your hot water system’s life. Ignoring or delaying regular servicing of hot water systems is the major reason why hot water system fails to work properly. These general maintenance tasks are essential to keep your hot-water heater working in top condition regardless of whether you have a gas or electric hot water system of Rinnai, Rheem, Dux or any other brand in Sydney.
Finally, always contact a reliable and specialist plumbing services to make sure you always have hot water when you need it the most.
