Does your water heater really need annual maintenance? Yes. Scheduling professional water heater maintenance once a year keeps your manufacturer’s warranty valid, protects your home insurance coverage, prevents leaks and tank ruptures, and keeps energy bills down — water heating is the second-largest energy expense in most homes. A yearly visit typically includes flushing sediment from the tank, checking or replacing the sacrificial anode rod, testing the pressure relief valve, and (on gas units) inspecting the exhaust for dangerous carbon monoxide back-drafts. With this upkeep, a water heater that would normally last 8 to 12 years can last up to two decades.
For most homeowners in Anoka, MN, water heaters are often out of sight and out of mind. As long as these appliances continue producing hot water, people rarely think much about them. However, when things go wrong, water heaters have the potential to cause serious property damage. Poorly maintained water heaters can also drive up home energy bills and leave hot water discolored and foul-tasting. To avoid these and other issues, it’s best to schedule professional water heater maintenance at least once each year.
What’s Included in Annual Water Heater Maintenance
During a professional maintenance visit, a plumber typically performs each of the following:
- Flushes the tank to remove sediment, silt, and debris that hurt efficiency and water quality.
- Checks and replaces the anode rod if it’s depleted, protecting the tank from rust.
- Tests the pressure relief valve to prevent overheating, rupture, or explosion.
- Inspects the exhaust system on gas units for blockages and back-drafts that cause carbon monoxide exposure.
- Checks connections and heating elements for corrosion, leaks, and sediment buildup.
- Assesses water pressure and quality, flagging hard-water issues and mitigation options.
Stay Compliant
New water heaters come with manufacturers’ warranties that typically last six to 12 years. These mutually binding agreements cover all water heater replacements and repairs that are the direct result of defective parts or substandard manufacturing. To remain compliant with the terms of your warranty, you’re required to schedule professional maintenance at least once annually. Manufacturers know that the likelihood of claims goes down significantly when their products are well cared for. If neglecting maintenance doesn’t result in the outright voidance of your warranty, it could lead to frustrating claims processing delays or denials.
Your Home Insurance Policy Might Be Affected as Well
Poorly maintained water heaters can develop leaks or they may rupture and spill their contents on the floor. Many standard, storage-based water heaters hold between 50 and 80 gallons of water at once. If you submit a home insurance claim for water damage repairs, your home insurance company could deny your claim if the related flood is the result of insufficient water heater maintenance.
Problems That Annual Water Heater Maintenance Prevents
Storage-based water heaters heat water up and then hold it in their tanks until it’s needed. This common water heating method takes a considerable toll on water heater tanks via continual exposure to hard water minerals. Problems like corrosion and built-up sediment can lead to cracked tank liners, loose and leaky connections, and inefficient water heating. Build-ups of corrosion and sediment on heating elements inhibit the heat transfer process and increase the amount of energy that water heaters must use to get their jobs done.
Rust and Other Corrosion
All standard, storage-based water heaters have thin metal rods that travel the length of their tanks. Often referred to as anode rods or sacrificial anode rods, these components sacrifice themselves to prevent the corrosion of in-tank components. They do so by attracting corroding minerals until they’re fully depleted. When your water heater’s sacrificial anode rod is fully depleted, your water heater tank becomes vulnerable to rust.
Exhaust Leaks and Carbon Monoxide Exposure
If you have a gas-fired water heater in your home, annual maintenance is essential for keeping everyone safe. Gas-fired water heaters burn natural gas to produce heat. They also produce small amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) as the result of incomplete fuel combustion. Although CO and other emissions are routed out of your home via an attached exhaust system, your water heater’s exhaust could become compressed, blocked, or collapsed over time.
During annual water heater maintenance, our plumbers carefully inspect the exhaust systems of these fuel-burning appliances. They also look for conditions that might lead to dangerous back-drafts. Both odorless and colorless, CO displaces oxygen in red blood cells to cause symptoms like:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Difficulty breathing
- Blurred vision
If prolonged, CO exposure can even prove fatal.
In addition to maintaining functional CO alarms throughout your home, it’s vital to schedule routine maintenance for all gas-fired appliances. Doing so could prove life-saving.
Poor Water Pressure
Build-ups of sediment throughout your water heating systems can affect your hot water pressure. If your showers are becoming increasingly less satisfying, problems with your water heater could be why. By scheduling water heater maintenance, you can expedite water heating and ensure good water flow. These visits are also an opportunity for plumbers to identify problems with excessively hard water and offer suggestions for mitigation.
Pressure Relief Valve Failure
Much like their name implies, pressure relief valves trigger the release of built-up pressure when water heaters overheat. Things like mineral build-ups, sediment build-ups, thermostat failure, and normal aging can all cause water heaters to overheat, rupture, or explode if their pressure relief valves aren’t working. If you skip annual maintenance, a faulty pressure relief valve could go overlooked.
Water Quality Issues
If your hot water is rust-colored, foul-tasting, and smelly, the most likely culprit is your water heater. This is especially true if the cold water that flows from your taps is clear, odor-free, and delicious. During routine maintenance, our plumbers flush water heater tanks to extract all sediment, silt, and other debris. When paired with anode rod replacement and other maintenance measures, this corrects and prevents many unpleasant problems with hot water quality.
Unmanageable Energy Bills
According to recent research performed by the State of New York, water heating is the second-largest energy expense in homes throughout the nation. If your energy bills have become unmanageable in recent months or years, you should optimize and improve your HVAC system and take better care of your water heater. By removing built-up debris from heating elements and the base of water heater tanks, routine maintenance improves both heat transfer and heat retention.
Extend the Lifespan of Your Water Heater With Annual Maintenance
Poorly maintained appliances don’t last as long as appliances that receive regular care. While most water heaters last between eight and 12 years, some can last as long as two decades with regular tank flushes and other upkeep. Routine maintenance gives homeowners more time to plan for water heater replacement and build their budgets.
Routine Maintenance Helps Plumbers Identify and Correct Minor Issues
Having a plumber inspect your water heater at least once each year is a great way to ensure that small problems are identified and resolved before they spiral out of control. With routine maintenance, your plumber can spot a corroded anode rode before your water heater’s tank bottom rusts out. These appointments also allow plumbers to spot impending tank ruptures before massive floods occur. With regular service, you can limit the risk of repairs and keep your total repair costs down.
What to Know About Tankless Water Heaters and Annual Maintenance
Unlike standard, storage-based water heaters, tankless water heaters don’t heat water and hold it indefinitely. However, although this leads to less overall wear, tankless water heaters need annual maintenance, too. Tankless, on-demand water heaters are still subject to damage caused by hard water minerals. They can also develop loose, leaky connections, problems along their exhaust systems, or electrical issues.
During annual maintenance for tankless water heaters, plumbers:
- Perform HX/descaling flushes
- Inspect all components and connections
- Clean air filters
- Clean inlet filters
- Check and test exhaust systems
If you’ve opted for a gas-fired tankless water heater, routine inspections are always key for protecting building residents from CO exposure.
Water Heater Maintenance — FAQ
How often should a water heater be serviced? At least once a year. Annual professional maintenance is typically required to keep your manufacturer’s warranty valid, and it protects efficiency, water quality, and safety.
What does annual water heater maintenance include? A plumber flushes sediment from the tank, checks and replaces the anode rod if needed, tests the pressure relief valve, inspects the exhaust system on gas units for carbon monoxide risks, and checks connections, heating elements, water pressure, and water quality.
What happens if I skip water heater maintenance? You risk voiding or complicating your warranty, a denied home insurance claim if a poorly maintained heater floods, higher energy bills, rust-colored or foul-smelling water, poor pressure, and — on gas units — dangerous carbon monoxide exposure from a blocked exhaust.
How long does a water heater last with regular maintenance? Most last between 8 and 12 years, but with regular tank flushes and upkeep, some last up to two decades.
Do tankless water heaters need annual maintenance too? Yes. Even though they don’t store water, tankless units still suffer from hard-water scaling and can develop leaky connections, exhaust problems, or electrical issues. Annual service includes descaling flushes, filter cleaning, and exhaust testing.
Why is my hot water rusty or smelly when the cold water is fine? That points to the water heater itself, usually sediment buildup or a depleted anode rod. Flushing the tank and replacing the anode rod during maintenance corrects and prevents these water-quality problems.
Homeowners in Anoka, MN can count on us for expert water heater service. We also provide heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical services. We offer competitive prices, quality products, and superior workmanship. To find out about our preventative maintenance plans or schedule an appointment, contact Liberty Comfort Systems today.
