We’ve written a fair bit about the benefits of water heater maintenance, but we rarely go into detail about it on the blog. However, we believe that it’s important for homeowners to know exactly why water heater maintenance is so beneficial for their systems. With that in mind, let’s take a look at just a few of the more important procedures that happen during water heater maintenance.
Sediment Flushing
Sediment has a habit of building up on the bottom of water heater storage tanks. This happens even more quickly in homes with a hard water problem. If the sediment builds up enough, it can actually insulate the water in the tank from the heat from the burner assembly. This will obviously seriously decrease the output from the water heater. So, in order to prevent this from happening, water heater maintenance appointments often include flushing the storage tank to get rid of any sediment buildup. If the sediment buildup is already substantial, it can be scraped out manually.
Replacing the Anode Rod
The anode rod is a metal rod that protects your water heater tank from rusting. The rod is made of magnesium, aluminum, or zinc, and degrades slowly while in contact with the water in the tank. As long as the rod is degrading, the ions in the water that normally cause rust will be attracted to it, instead of the tank lining. This will protect the tank from rusting for a while, but eventually the rod will wear down to the point where it needs to be replaced. Your water heater technician will likely check your anode rod during a maintenance appointment, to make sure it’s still operating properly.
Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing offers a full range of water heater maintenance services throughout Chevy Chase, MD. Call today for an appointment.