5 Easy Ways to Maintain Your Water Heater

Your water heater is an appliance that you may not give much thought to – until one day you find yourself without hot water. We rely on hot water throughout the home for things such as showering and bathing, clean clothes, and dishwashing. With some regular maintenance your water heater will service you for years, so read on for 5 tips to maintain your appliance and avoid costly repairs.

  1. Insulate your water heater. The colder weather we experience during the Winter months can cause water pipes anywhere in your home to freeze. Frozen water pipes can burst and result in expensive repairs, including the purchase of a new water heater. Insulating the tank itself helps keep water warm throughout the day and stops pipes from freezing.
  2. Change your Anode Rod. You may not know what an anode rod is, or may not be aware that it prevents your heater from corroding. Through a process called electrolysis the anode rod attracts calcium and mineral buildup and keeps the water heater from rusting inside.
  3. Adjust the temperature setting. The temperature of hot water is very much a seasonal preference, as most people prefer it hotter during cold winter months. During summer months, using a lower setting will not be as hard on the tank and as a bonus you’ll save some money.
  4. Check your TPR valve. The temperature release valve is there to prevent the water from becoming too hot by releasing some water to relieve pressure inside the tank. Simply place a bucket under the valve, open and close it once, and if the tank continues to drain the valve need replacing.
  5. Clean the tank. Even if your Anode Rod is doing its job it doesn’t hurt to flush the tank periodically. To clean the tank, open and close the water supply continuously until the water runs clear. Follow by opening the water supply to refill the tank and turn the power back on.

By carrying out the above maintenance suggestions, you can certainly extend the life of your water heater. Eventually your water heater will need replacing or you may require the services of a plumbing contractor in Victoria BC.  Plumbing emergencies can happen anytime, so it’s reassuring to know the professionals at Goodsense Plumbing and Drain are there 24/7 for you.

5 Warning Signs of a Clogged Drain

As a homeowner you know that a sewer pipe carries the household wastewater from your home to a main sewer line. You may take it for granted and never give it a thought, unless of course you discover sewage coming out of your drain.

Any homeowner who has experienced this first hand is aware of the tremendous damage it can cause. Having a single clogged drain is inconvenient, so imagine the damage to your personal belongings and costs of repairs due to a clogged sewer line.

While you want to take care of any plumbing problem, there are some ways to determine if you are dealing with a secondary drain problem or a main sewer drain clog:

  1. The number one warning sign of a sewer line problem is a gurgling toilet. Should you notice a toilet gurgling after using any water in the house, particularly after doing laundry or using the dishwasher, you have a sewer line problem.
  2. Anytime you use any water in the house and it not only causes the toilet to gurgle but comes up the bathtub and/or floor drain, it’s an indication you have a clogged sewer line.
  3. If any drain is slow to drain it’s likely that only that drain is clogged, but when all your drains are slow AND your toilet gurgles you have a clogged sewer line. The most likely culprits are a buildup of grease or roots.
  4. If your kitchen or bathroom sinks are clogged but you can still flush toilets without water coming up in the tub and/or floor drains, the problem is just a single clogged drain. You may notice the water level in a toilet rising and then dropping, which is a sure sign there is a problem in the system. It could be only that one toilet, or the beginnings of a bigger problem.

If you’ve narrowed the cause to a clogged sewer line, it requires immediate attention from a plumbing contractor. In Victoria contact Goodsense Plumbing for prompt drain cleaning service.