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What is water heater maintenance and why should it be done?
Water heater maintenance must be done every six months to ensure the longevity of your tank. If your water heater has not been serviced for a while you may be running as low as 40% efficiency. A full list of everything our technicians check, test, and clean in a water heater tune up can be referenced in the checklist below.
- Inspect heavy rust or water marks
- Inspect tank penetration for moisture or leaks
- Verify gas shutoff operational
- Inspect combustion chamber
- Inspect flue baffle
- Verify flue to code length
- Verify correct fittings
- Check integrity of anode rod
- Verify drain valve operational
- Check t-stat operation and wiring
- Check or clean burner assembly
- Open pressure relief valve (twice per year minimum)
- Check proper clearance above and around heaterFlush sediment
- Verify proper pressure in expansion tank
- Check condition of dip tube
- Check condition of gate valves
- Verify proper heater blanket
- Check condition of pipe insulation
- Verify heat trap (minimum 6 inches)
- Test vent damper
- Check overall condition of tank
- Verify proper combustion air.
Importance of keeping your evaporator coil clean
There are many different components in your water heater that need to be cleaned. One of the many things our technicians will do when they arrive to perform a water heater tune up is make sure your water heater tank is clean and free of sediment. If it is not it can result in loss of efficiency. They will also check and clean the burner assembly by pulling it out of the heater. The burners will be brushed clean, and the combustion chamber will be vacuumed out before reinstalling the parts.
burner assembly removed for cleaning
combustion chamber
where burner assembly is installed before vacuum out
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How often should you schedule maintenance for your boiler?
Boiler maintenance should be done twice a year minimum. At Jump HVAC we prefer to do a pre-season and mid-season check of the boilers. In the pre-season check, we check all the safety controls and test the combustion flue gases to see if they are close to the proper fuel to air ratio settings. In the mid-season test, we test all the safety controls and perform the combustion analysis and adjustment. This is because the boiler and burner will operate longer to allow proper setup and adjustment. To properly adjust the fuel to air ratio of a burner, the burner should operate for at least 15 minutes to allow the flame to stabilize before any adjustments are made. If this is done in the fall at the preseason test, the boiler will most likely shut off on temperature and may take several hours to complete the test.
Evaluating your anode rod
It’s important to verify the integrity of the anode rod. This is what protects your tank from sediment. The anode rod is made of a sacrificial metal that the sediment attacks and eats instead of your water heater tank. If the anode rod is bad, the tank is not far behind it. This is the most important step in maintaining the longevity of your water heater and is something our technicians make sure to check with every water heater tune up.
annode rod still in suitable condition
How often should you schedule maintenance for your water heater?
Your water heater needs maintenance every six months! This ensures you have a clean tank with a functioning temperature & pressure valve. This valve must be tested every six months. If the temperature & pressure valve fails and is not replaced it may lead to pipes bursting and cause your home to flood.
How often should you schedule maintenance for your water heater?
How can you tell if you need maintenance performed on your water heater?
There are a few noticeable clues that you may have a sediment buildup problem with a gas heater. First, lower element burnout. This can occur when sediment piles up high enough to bury the lower elements, causing overheating. One way to tell that this is happening is your hot water will run out much more quickly than it used to. The second clue is something you may hear. Customers have described sounds coming from their water heater as “burglars breaking in,” “a bowling alley,” and “a freight train in my tank.” Sounds such as popping, crackling, or rumbling can be heard when water trapped in the sediment superheats and turns to steam. The third way to tell is with your sense of smell. If there is sediment buildup in your water heater tank it may smell like an unpleasant sulphur or rotten-egg odor. This is because sediment is a breeding ground for bacteria. If any of these clues have come to your attention in your home, call to schedule maintenance for your water heater today.
Things homeowners can do on their own to help maintain their water heater.
We can’t stress enough the importance of keeping your mechanical room clean. It’s not a storage room. The equipment needs this room to breathe. Filling your mechanical room with things such as boxes, paint cans, et cetera can be hazardous and shorten the life of your gas appliances.
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