Water Heater Maintenance

Properly maintained, a water heater will provide years of dependable service. See your water heater manual for specific maintenance instructions for your model. If your water heater is leaking at this time, please see Water Heater Emergency Shutdown Instructions and contact Anytime Plumbing immediately.

General Gas Water Heater Maintenance

Draining the Water Heater

Draining the water heater should be done annually in homes with decent pipes. If you have galvenized pipes, you may want to do this more often as there is a greater chance of solids ending up in the water heater.

CAUTION: Shut off gas to the water heater at the gas control (thermostat), gas cock or manual shot-off valve before draining water.

DANGER: Before manually operating the temperature and pressure relief valve, make certain no one will be exposed to the hot water released by the valve. The water drained from the tank may be hot enough to present a scald hazard and should be directed to a suitable drain to prevent injury or damage.

In order to drain the water heater, turn off the cold water supply. Open a hot water faucet or lift the handle on the relief valve to admit air to the tank.

Attach a garden hose to the drain valve on the water heater and direct the stream of water to a drain. Open the valve.

Periodic Inspection

DANGER: Failure to perform the recommended Routine Preventative Maintenance can harm the proper operation of water heaters, which can cause carbon monoxide dangers, excessive hot water temperatures and other potentially hazardous conditions.

It is recommended that a periodic inspection of the gas control (thermostat), burner, relief valve, internal flue-way and venting system should be made by service personnel qualified in water heaters. Anytime Plumbing is qualified in water heater maintenance, installation and replacement.

At least once a year, lift and release the lever handle on the temperature pressure relief valve, located near the top of the water heater, to make certain the valve operates freely. Allow several gallons to flush through the discharge line to an open drain.

A water heater’s tank can act as a settling basin for solids suspended in the water. It is therefore not uncommon for hard water deposits to accumulate in the bottom of the tank. If allowed to accumulate, these solids can cover the gas control (thermostat) sensors, causing the sensors to operate erratically.

Because accumulated solids can prevent the thermostat sensors from accurately reading the water temperature, the water at the fixture can be hotter than the gas control dial setting. It is suggested that a few quarts of water be drained front he water heater’s tank every month to clean the tank of these deposits.

Rapid closing of faucets or solenoid valves in automatic water using appliances can cause a banging noise heard in a water pipe. Strategically located risers in the water pipe system or water hammer arresting devices can be used to minimize the problem. Contact Anytime Plumbing.

The anode rod should be removed from the water heater’s tank annually for inspection and replaced when more than 6″ of core wire is exposed at either end of the rod.
Make sure the cold water supply is turned off before removing the anode rod.

Some gas water heaters have a combustion shut off device that shuts the water heater down if undesirable combustion conditions occur such as the presence of flammable vapors or blockage of the combustion air inlet openings. If this occurs, contact a qualified technician – Anytime Plumbing.

Housekeeping

DANGER: Combustible materials, such as clothing, cleaning materials, or flammable liquids, etc., must not be placed against or next to gas water heaters.

• Visually inspect pilot burner and relight if necessary.
• Ensure sufficient ventilation and combustion air supply
• Proper clearances must be maintained

When installed in a closet, DO NOT block or obstruct any of the combustion air inlet openings located around the perimeter of the water heater. A minimum of 1″ is required between these combustion air inlet openings and any obstruction.