When the seasons change from the heat of summer to the cooler days of fall, homeowners start to make plans for the approach of winter. This includes tasks like winterizing the home and arranging for professional maintenance for heating systems. There are parts of the plumbing that could also use some winter maintenance, and one of them is the water heater. Even though you use the water heater around the year, you’ll especially miss it if it fails on you in winter, so it’s wise to have maintenance done before winter arrives.
Do I Need Water Heater Maintenance Every Year?
Yes. A water heater is much like other heating systems, such as furnaces, and it undergoes enough strain during the year to make maintenance a necessity. In fact, a water heater puts in much more service than a furnace, since it receives use every day of the year, not during only one season.
What Problems Does Maintenance Prevent?
Many potential repair issues are preventable thanks to annual maintenance for a water heater. For example, maintenance checks the anode rod that stops corrosion from affecting the tank. A technician will change the anode rod if it has started to corrode all the way through. Maintenance also eliminates sediment build-up in the tank that can lead to high water pressure, locates where leaks may be starting, and prevents potentially hazardous gas leaks.
Are There Any Other Benefits to Regular Water Heater Maintenance?
You can expect the water heater to last many years longer than it otherwise would, thanks to maintenance. Routine maintenance also protects the energy efficiency of the system so that the water heater won’t become more and more expensive to run each year. Finally, maintenance gives you peace of mind that there’s little chance of the water heater failing on you during the coming year.