Try To Extend The Life Of Your Water Heater
As the Birmingham-based water heater installation experts
, Rex and Randy Latta at Latta Plumbing Inc say the best thing that a homeowner can do to extend the life of a water heater is just to take good care of it. On the other hand, people dont have to be fanatical about the care of their water heaters, since an appliance thats running properly should pretty much take care of itself.
Basically, we advise that homeowners shouldnt try handling any water heater repairs or fix-it issues themselves, since water heaters are complex appliances that should really be left in the hands of professionals. But one thing that homeowners can try on their own if they feel comfortable is draining the water from the water heater once a year.
Draining Water Heaters
While most water heater installation companies in Birmingham, including Latta Plumbing Inc, will make house calls to drain the water in a water heater, the job is usually simple enough that most homeowners can handle it on their own. All you have to do is drain the old water out to get rid of the sediment that has built up, and then put new fresh water back in.
Draining a water heater is the best way to rid the appliance of any built up sediment, which is important because excess sediment is a leading cause of water heater breakdowns. However, people shouldnt feel compelled to drain their water heaters if they dont feel comfortable taking on that type of job themselves. In fact, there are some people who are fanatical about draining their water heaters each year, and some people who havent done it in the entire life of their water heater.
Repurposing the Water
If you have decided that you do want to try draining your water heaters yourselves, then make sure to do the project only once each yearat a maximum. That is because it has to do with water loss. Each time you drain a water heater, you are losing up to 40 gallons of wateror whatever size the tank is. That is a substantial amount of waste, especially for eco-conscious homeowners.
Rather than just wasting the water thats drained from a water heater once a year, people may have other options. Anyone with a home garden should think about repurposing the water for that, since the water that is removed from a water heater is not toxic in any way. If you want to water your flowers or something, then thats a good use for the drained water.
Choosing a New Model
While many people in Birmingham do call water heater installation companies to handle the drainage and sediment removal each year, doing so is a personal choice based on how much home improvement knowledge and skill the individual homeowner has. However, simply draining your water heater once a year is not a guarantee that it will last forever. The life expectancy of an average water heater is about 10 years. Most appliances are under warranty for six years, and if a water heater lasts for 10 years, then you should consider yourself lucky. But generally, it seems like on about the 10 year mark is when people start saying they are having issues or thinking about getting a new water heater.
Thanks in large part to recent technological advancements, the efficiency of water heaters is improving so quickly right now that some homeowners are choosing to trade in their old water heaters for newer models, even before their older ones break down. Rather than paying $200 to repair a 10-year-old water heater, many of the clients we work with are instead choosing to put the money towards the purchase of an entirely new model. Not only will the $200 help offset the cost, but the energy savings on a month-to-month basis means that the homeowner will actually be saving money by purchasing the new appliance within a matter of months or years.
When it comes to choosing a new energy-efficient water heater, the biggest mistake most homeowners make is choosing a model that is too small. Although home sizes are increasing, many people are still purchasing the same 40-gallon water heater tanks that they always did. That is why it is a good idea to speak with a water heater installation expert before choosing a new model for your home, and not just assuming that you should stick with the size you previously had beforehand.
by: Rex and Randy Latta
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