Water heaters play a vital role in the home, including facilitating water conservation and hot water on demand. Models designed to conserve water can enable your household to save money in utilities while providing hot water right when you need it for washing hands, bathing and cleaning dishes. Several core maintenance tips, along with the guidance of a professional plumbing company such as Apex Plumbing, can help you keep your water heater functioning at its optimum level for years.

Tank Water
First, you should drain your water heater tank once a year. This will help you get rid of a majority of the sediment that collects on your tank’s bottom. In order to perform this task, you’ll need to shut off the electricity or gas to your heater and connect a garden hose to your tank’s drain valve, which is located at the tank’s bottom area. Then, you need to close the tank’s incoming cold water valve, located at the tank’s top area. Next, open your tank’s pressure release valve, open the tank drain valve and drain the water. Finally, reverse this process.

Anode Rod
It is also important to change your tank’s anode rod—a step that is rarely completed. The rod is made out of aluminum or magnesium. It is suspended in your tank and essentially attracts water molecules that have been charged. This rod typically lasts about 5 to 10 years, but if you clean it, this will prolong its life.

Heating Element
You should also check your tank’s heating element if the water heater hasn’t been cleaned for many years. The heating element screws into your tank’s side, and typically, you’ll find two of these. The lower one is usually covered with a calcium carbonate substance.

Pressure Valve
You will also need to check your water heater tank’s pressure valve during your annual maintenance process. The valve is on your tank’s side near its top. The tank needs to be opened yearly to ensure it works and doesn’t become clogged with undesirable calcium carbonate.

Water Temperature
Be sure to keep your tank’s water temperature at about 115–120 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower temperatures will help prevent overheating as well as save energy.