More Water Heater Tips
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To extend the life of your water heater, drain the tank annually to remove any sediment that may have built up inside. Be careful to follow the manufacturer′s suggestions as the water draining could be extremely hot. Discharge the water into a floor drain, laundry tub or bathtub. Hot water will kill your grass if discharged onto the lawn. And if discharged into the toilet, hot water can crack the bowl. (For water heater draining tips, click here.)
Purchase a hot water insulation jacket for your water heater. By insulating, it will keep the hot water heated longer, reduce standby heat loss (heat lost through the walls of the tank) and further save on heating costs.
Turn down the thermostat on your water heater. Setting your water heater thermostat to a mid to low range will still provide plenty of hot water, prevent scalding and save money on energy costs.
 Insulating your hot water pipes will reduce heat loss as the hot water is flowing to your faucet. More importantly,
it will reduce standby heat loss when the tap is turned off and them back on later. Very often energy and water are
wasted waiting for the hot water to reach the tap. Even when pipes are insulated, the water in the pipes will eventually
cool, but it will stay warmer longer than it would if the pipes weren′t insulated.
Install water saving showerheads in your bathrooms and aerated faucets in your sinks. This reduces the amount
of hot water used, thereby reducing energy costs and giving your water heater a longer life span.
At least once every couple of years, have your water heater inspected by a certified plumbing technician. This will keep it in optimal operating condition.
Have a certified technician replace the anode rod about every five years. This small metal device sacrifices itself for the good of the entire unit. The corrosive chemicals in the water are drawn to the anode rod instead of eating away at the inside of the tank itself.
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