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5 Tips That Help Prevent Costly Water Heater Repair | Potomac, MD

5 Tips That Help Prevent Costly Water Heater Repair | Potomac, MD

Regular water heater maintenance is important to keep your appliance efficient and in top shape. When it’s poorly maintained, your water heater will only work harder, consuming more energy as a result. You’ll end up paying higher bills if you don’t maintain your water heater. Read this article to learn tips on how to avoid a costly water heater repair in Potomac, MD. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Clarksburg Plumbing.

Tips To Keep The Water Heater Efficient

Below are helpful tips to keep your water heater in top shape and avoid a costly water heater repair. If you need a plumber for your home in Potomac, MD, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us anytime.

1. Drain the Water Heater Tank

Part of preventative maintenance is to remove the sediment building up in the tank by draining the water heater. You need to do this at least once a year or twice if there’s hard water in your plumbing. Don’t worry, you can also install a water softener to remove the hard water. Just be careful with low water pressure because sediment can build up faster when the water pressure is low.

It’s important to remove the sediment buildup so that they don’t accumulate inside and damage the tank. You will have less space for hot water when the sediment builds up and you may constantly lose hot water while showering. Other times you may experience fluctuating water temperatures. The only way to address this problem is by flushing the water heater. If you don’t do this, you’ll end up with a costly water heater repair.

2. Get Professional Maintenance

In addition to flushing the water heater, it’s also important to hire a licensed plumber to professionally inspect your unit. During the appointment, he will make sure all the system components of your water heater are working and your water is clean. Doing this can also prevent a costly water heater repair. However, do make sure that you only hire a licensed plumber in the area to ensure the task is properly carried out.

Get in touch with Clarksburg Plumbing if you need a plumber to inspect your unit, keep it efficient and avoid a costly water heater repair. Our plumbers can service both tank-type and tankless water heaters. Should you decide to get a replacement, we can also help you install a new unit.

3. Never Ignore Problems

One of the most costly mistakes you can make is when you keep ignoring problems with your water heater. If you suspect something is wrong with the unit, we recommend calling a plumber immediately to avoid a more costly water heater repair. If your unit is more than 7 years old though, we might advise you to get a new one. Also, when you keep calling a plumber for a water heater repair, you will be able to save money with a brand-new unit. Repair costs can add up; it will be more cost-effective to get a new unit instead.

4. Insulate the Tank

Do you have an old water heater tank? Don’t forget to get an insulating blanket to conserve energy and save money. Old water heater tanks usually don’t include insulation yet; call a plumber if you need further assistance. Don’t forget to also insulate the pipes so that the water doesn’t freeze and the pipes don’t break.

Additionally, periodically check your water heater for any signs of leaks or damage, and ensure you get in touch with a plumber immediately to avoid a more costly repair or replacement.

5. Check the Anode Rod

You need to check this every three years and don’t forget to also test the pressure relief valve. If you need more help with this, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a licensed plumber.

Why Invest in a Tankless Water Heater

How many years have you been using your water heater? Tank-type heaters can last up to 10 years but they will start to become less efficient after 7 years. If you have an old unit, consider switching to the tankless water heater. The latter can last up to 20 years, twice as long as the tank-type water heater. The only downside is that tankless water is more expensive than conventional water heaters. But you do get to save more because of the benefits you get with the tankless unit.

Compared to the standard water heater, the tankless unit is more expensive as it uses energy only when a household member turns on the faucet. If you don’t turn on the shower, no energy is being consumed. With the tank-type water heater, you’ll need to turn it on regularly or you’re not going to have hot water.

Hire a licensed plumber if you’re planning to install a tankless water heater. Don’t install it on your own to avoid damage to the unit or costly water heater repair. Talk to us so we can professionally install your unit. We can also help you choose the right water heater size for your household.

Contact Clarksburg Plumbing Today

Do you need water heater repair in Potomac, MD? We’re just here to help. Our plumbing experts at Clarksburg Plumbing can install almost all types of water heaters. We’re also experienced with most brands of water heaters. Or if you need assistance in choosing the right water heater for your home, we can assist as well. Just call us at your earliest convenience and our professional team will schedule a plumber ASAP. Clarksburg Plumbing is a dependable plumbing company in the area and our goal is to fix the problem ASAP.

Call Clarksburg Plumbing today for an appointment.

See our previous blog post here!

Photo By sarahdesign at Shutterstock

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