Tips for Maintaining Your Water Heater

Homeowners know that there's a lot of work that goes into keeping your home clean, safe, and up-to-date. In fact, taking care of the property itself can sometimes seem like a full-time job. From the basement to the attic and everything in between, all of the systems within your home need to be well-maintained - and that includes the plumbing. Here are a few tips for taking care of this fixture:

Set the right temperature

The industry rule of thumb for the right water-heater temperature is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Why is this the sweet spot? Set it any higher, and you run the risk of your water being scalding, but at this temperature, it will still provide comfortably hot water. However, if you'd rather save a few bucks and use cooler water for bathing, washing clothes and doing the dishes, you can lower the temperature by 5-10 degrees.

Cover it up

If you have an older water heater, adding some insulation to the fixture and the pipes surrounding it can also provide a couple of benefits. First, insulating your heater will help you save some money - you won't be expending as much energy to reheat the water and keep it warm. Second, because it won't go through as many drastic temperature changes, your fixture may stay in better shape for longer.

Schedule an annual flush and inspection

There are certain regular maintenance routines that your water heater needs to stay in good working condition. Schedule annual water-heater services with your local Roto-Rooter plumber - he or she will be able to inspect the fixture, flush out any sediment that's built up over the year and make sure the anode rod hasn't eroded or become damaged.

Utilize the vacation setting

Water heater’s enjoy vacations too. Many water heaters have a vacation setting - if yours does, utilize it whenever you'll be away from your home for more than a couple of days. This will save you money and keep your machine in a low-energy mode until you're ready to use it again.

If you suspect something is wrong with your water heater, don't wait until the annual service you scheduled - call Roto-Rooter to have a plumber inspect the fixture right away. Hot water is crucial for daily living, so your Roto-Rooter professional will be happy to fix the issue immediately.