Despite how much we rely on hot water every day for so many different things, water heaters are an appliance that many people neglect. This is why many homes end up experiencing frequent issues with their hot water or having to replace their water heater more often. Scheduling an annual water heater check-up and maintenance service can provide many major benefits! In this article, we'll look at the various benefits so you can understand why you should schedule an end-of-the-year check-up if you haven't had your water heater serviced recently.

Preventing Issues With Your Hot Water Supply

Both tank and tankless water heaters can develop issues that prevent them from always working properly. That means you can end up with things like your water not getting hot enough or frequent fluctuations in the water temperature. Tank water heaters are especially prone to issues that lead to them heating much less effectively. Under normal circumstances, you shouldn't have to wait much more than 30 minutes to an hour to have hot water again after you use all of it up. If your water heater isn't working effectively due to a lack of maintenance or because it needs repairs, you could easily end up waiting two hours or more for the water to be as hot as it should again. The most common reason tank water heaters stop heating effectively is due to sediment build-up. Sediment naturally forms when water is heated due to the minerals it contains solidifying. This is why tank water heaters should always be drained and flushed once or twice a year. If not, your water heater will eventually not work as well or heat as quickly. That's because the sediment layer ends up absorbing lots of heat and preventing it from flowing directly out into the water. Tankless water heaters should also be flushed at least once a year. The purpose is to descale the water heater and eliminate the mineral deposits that naturally form on the unit's heat exchanger. Mineral deposits can create the same issue as sediment build-up since they essentially create a layer of insulation that prevents heat from being transferred to the water as effectively. Over time, the layer of mineral deposits can get so thick that it prevents the water from getting fully warm before it flows out of the water heater into the rest of your plumbing.

Reducing the Risk of Breakdowns

Another reason it's worth paying for an annual water heater check-up is that it helps ensure you always have hot water when you need it. If your water heater is older and you don't have it inspected and serviced every year, the chances of it suddenly not working are far greater. While many common issues like a worn-out electric heating element or faulty gas burner are something a plumber can usually fix, they can still result in you not having hot water for some time. That means you could need to pay for an emergency repair. Even then, you may still have to go without hot water for at least a day or two since a plumbing company may not have the necessary replacement parts.

Improving Your Water Heater's Energy Efficiency

Without regular maintenance, your water heater's performance will suffer over time and lead to a decrease in its energy efficiency. This is especially true if you don't flush a tank water heater regularly since all of the sediment will result in it having to run longer each time it comes on. Statistics from the US Department of Energy show that hot water accounts for approximately 18% of the average home's energy usage. That means your water heater is likely the second biggest source of energy consumption after heating and air conditioning. The fact that hot water requires so much energy means your finances can take a real hit if you don't ensure your water heater is properly maintained and working efficiently.

Protecting the Life of Your Water Heater

Another key reason to schedule a water heater check-up is that it can save you money by extending the time until you need a new water heater installed. Regular maintenance and check-ups are crucial for protecting the life of a water heater for a few different reasons. One is that poor performance due to a lack of maintenance leads to longer heating cycles, which leads to increased wear and tear. An even bigger concern is your water heater could experience a fatal issue that causes it to completely give out long before it normally should. The thing you should be most concerned about is your water heater tank getting weakened by rust and corrosion and starting to leak. A leaky water heater can be catastrophic since there's a chance of the tank splitting and resulting in a massive flood. Even if you shut off the water immediately, most or all the water in the tank will still come rushing out. The issue will be worse if you don't shut off the water immediately since water will continue flowing into the tank as it drains. The average flow rate for the cold water inlet pipe on a water heater is 13.5 gallons per minute. That means you could end up with nearly a thousand gallons flooding the nearby areas in just an hour if your water heater bursts. Annual check-ups help reduce the risk of a hot water tank rusting since part of the process involves checking the unit's anode rod to see how much of it is left. The anode rod is a tank water heater's primary defense against rust and corrosion. That's because it has a metal coating that is more reactive than the steel the tank is made of. That means minerals in the water react with the coating on the rod and cause it to corrode instead of corroding the steel tank. The result is that the coating slowly gets eaten away, at which point the tank starts rusting and corroding faster if the anode rod isn't replaced. It typically only takes a maximum of five years before enough of the coating is gone, and the anode rod is no longer effective. That's why you should have a plumber check the condition of your water heater's anode rod every year so you can know when it's no longer effective and needs to be replaced. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® is the company to turn to for all your water heater and plumbing needs. We strive to offer the best plumbing services in the area and have a team of dedicated professionals ready to help in any way they can. No matter what type or brand of water heater you have, you can trust that we can expertly handle all your inspection, maintenance, and repair needs. You can also call us 24/7 if you're dealing with any plumbing, drain, or sewer emergencies. To schedule a water heater check-up and enjoy all the benefits we've just discussed, call or contact us today.