The devices used in homes to heat water either through gas or electricity, have a tank to store water, which in normal conditions is provided with an insulating material to maintain the proper temperature of the water that is deposited in them.

The useful life of these tanks is estimated to have a durability that oscillates in a range of 10 to 15 years, that last more or less time depends on the conditions of use and maintenance that are given.

Can you extend the useful life of water heaters?

There are a number of aspects that can effectively extend the life of these devices so essential in homes, to the point of achieving that its durability amounts to a range twice greater than the useful life stipulated by manufacturers.

Making water heaters last twice as long as expected represents an economic improvement of our family budgets, so it is beneficial to take into account the recommendations that we will show, to get our equipment to heat the vital liquid to work efficiently for longer.

Tips for extending the useful life of these devices

Preventing the accumulation of sediments

Water heating generates sediments produced by the minerals present in it, the frequency of this sedimentation depends largely on the place where we live, the water has amounts of calcium carbonate, magnesium and other minerals that may have greater or lesser proportion according to the place, this feature is known as water hardness, and the more hardness presents, the greater risks of sedimentation represent for the tanks of the heaters.

This sedimentation causes problems and minimizes the efficiency of the heater, since it covers a large part of the surface of the components that generate the heat to heat the water, causing an isolation between the water and this heating surface, which when not in direct contact with the water tends to overheat and therefore to cause failures that will end in the corrosion of the tank.

To avoid this phenomenon of sedimentation, the ideal is to drain the drain valve of the device, bearing in mind to verify the state of the water that comes out of it, if it comes out clean there will not be much to do, closing the valve again will be enough.

But if on the contrary, dirt and impurities come out of this valve, you must completely empty the tank of the device, and perform an efficient cleaning of the tank and its ducts, it is advisable to perform this action of cleaning the tank annually to keep it in good condition and free from the danger of corrosion, which is the main enemy.

Replacement of the anode rod

This component is inside the heater tank and its function is to avoid the corrosion of the tank, for which it decomposes by means of electrolysis to protect the tank, if this rod deteriorates and is not replaced the tank will be affected by corrosion.

You can identify it by looking inside the tank for a metal rod that hangs inside the tank, it is easy to replace, depending on the model of the heater the tank may have one or two of these rods.

Heater maintenance planning

Periodic revisions based on the observation with regular frequency of the water that comes out of the taps, is an alternative that will benefit the lengthening of the useful life of the device, since in this way you will notice how often the water comes out very cloudy so that you can schedule efficiently the revisions and cleaning of the tank and ducts of the device.

The annual check-up should be maintained even if the water is not hard during the year, and plan the annual visit of a reliable technician specialized in these water heating devices.

 

For more information, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other cities in New Jersey, such as Glen Ridge, Little Falls and West Orange.