Your water heater is an essential part of your Hanover, MD, residence. You use hot water for activities like showering, bathing, performing basic cleaning tasks, doing laundry, etc. It often isn’t until your home’s hot water heater fails that you realize how important this appliance is. There are several maintenance tips that you can follow that will not only protect your hot water heater but also boost year-round efficiency. This will allow you to use your water heater without spending a ton of money on your monthly utility bills.
Scheduling Routine Inspections
It’s important that you have a professional come to your home annually to inspect your water heater as well as the rest of your plumbing system. A routine inspection of your water heater will include checking all the various electrical, gas, and water connections. We look at the pressure relief valve to ensure it will work properly if pressure is building up to a dangerous level inside your tank. We also inspect the anode rod inside your tank. This is a sacrificial rod that collects sediment and mineral deposits so that this material doesn’t corrode the inside of your tank. We check for other signs of corrosion on the exterior of the tank as well.
It’s important to have your water tank flushed at least once annually. This process removes any sediment and minerals that have accumulated. This accumulation can cause your water heater to work harder to provide you with the hot water you need, which decreases overall efficiency.
If we spot anything wrong with your water heater at this maintenance appointment, we can provide prompt and affordable repairs. It’s often much more efficient to perform a minor water heater repair than it is to wait for something catastrophic to happen, like your water heater not functioning at all.
We can also alert you if it looks like your hot water heater is starting to come close to the end of its useful life. This provides you with the opportunity to budget for its replacement. You can spend some time looking around for the perfect hot water heater that meets the demands of your family and provides you with the efficiency you need.
Adjusting the Thermostat on Your Water Heater
There’s a thermostat on your water heater that you can easily adjust yourself to boost efficiency. Ideally, you’ll want to keep the thermostat on your water heater at about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything over 140 degrees Fahrenheit leads to inefficiencies. The goal is to find a setting that meets the hot water demands of your household without running your heater too frequently.
Remember that, even if you’re not using hot water right now, your water heater will run to maintain the temperature of the water in your tank. This is where a lot of homeowners lose money. If you have your thermostat set very high, your heater will run more frequently to keep up with that temperature setting. In most cases, you can still be comfortable after lowering the temperature.
Considering the Size of Your Tank
Hot water tanks come in a variety of sizes. This includes tanks that are around 30 gallons and upwards. It’s important that your home has the right-sized tank. If you have a tank that’s too large, your heater is going to run more frequently to maintain the temperature of the water in the tank. However, having too small a tank will result in your heater running too frequently to keep up with your demands.
Ideally, you want to purchase a hot water tank that’s 30 gallons if you have 1 to 2 people in your residence. Homes with 3 to 4 people benefit from a tank that’s 40 gallons in size. If you have a large household with more than 4 people in it, consider a large hot water tank that’s 50 gallons or larger.
In some homes, there may be a lot of people living in the residence, but the demand for hot water isn’t substantial. For example, you may use hot water throughout the day, but there isn’t one time of the day when the demand is very drastic. This may allow you to use a smaller tank size. Consider the amount of hot water you need at one time for bathing, cooking, running your appliances, etc.
Considering a Tankless Water Heater
If you have very high hot water demands at home, you may want to consider purchasing a tankless hot water system. This removes the need to have a tank installed, which is nice if you don’t have a lot of space to work with. Instead, a tankless system is installed on the wall of an area like your basement or utility room. Water will flow through this equipment and heat it as you need it. There won’t be any scenario where you can’t access hot water because you’ve run out.
Tankless water heaters tend to be efficient, too. If you’re not home or are away on vacation, you’re not paying to keep water in a tank heated. If the hot water faucets aren’t turned on in your home, there won’t be any expense involved. Also, tankless systems have a much longer life expectancy. A traditional hot water heater with a tank usually lasts around 10 years. A tankless setup can last as long as 30 years if it receives routine inspections and maintenance. There may be occasional repair needs as well.
Adding Insulation
You can more efficiently use the hot water in your home by insulating your pipes. The hot water that travels through your plumbing system won’t lose any heat before it arrives at the fixture you’re turning on. There are different types of insulation available. This includes foam tubing, which can be cut and fitted directly over your pipes. You can also have spray foam insulation blown into the areas around your pipes. This is a very effective and efficient form of insulation. We can also install fiberglass insulation around the opening where the pipes are located.
In addition, you can add insulation to your hot water heater to keep the water inside warmer for longer periods. There are often incentives that come along with adding insulation to your plumbing system. This makes it an affordable upgrade that can save you a lot of money on your utility bills.
How Our Experts Can Help
Beltway Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing can provide routine maintenance for your hot water heater, which can help boost its efficiency. We also offer a variety of other plumbing services, including drain cleaning, new plumbing installation, hydro jetting, pipe repair and replacement, and much more. We offer heating and cooling services, too, such as emergency repairs, routine maintenance, and new equipment installation. In addition, we address indoor air quality concerns, including duct cleanings and whole-house air purification.
Contact our team of dependable professionals at Beltway Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing to schedule an appointment today.
