Is Your Water Heater Dying a Premature Death?
What is your largest and most expensive plumbing fixture? It's not your bathtub. It's not your toilet. It's your water heater — and it may not be working as well as you think. Water seeping from its drain valve, a connection, or a seam often goes unnoticed.
Statistically, heaters fail 655 times every hour (particularly on the weekends). Heater failure is democratic, chilling rich and poor, young and old. Replacement costs vary widely. Add to that the cost and inconvenience of taking time off work to let the plumber in — and don't forget to include the cost of your insurance deductible to repair the damage. It all adds up to a considerable amount.
However, with the proper maintenance, your water heater will live longer, operate quieter, and even help you save on gas.
In this issue of Currents we will focus on the pros of water heater maintenance. If your tank shows little or no evidence of corrosion, we will let you know the cost of necessary maintenance and the amount of time needed for service. If your tank does not look serviceable, we will point out conditions which warrant a new tank and give you an estimate for the installation of a new heater.
We at Bob & Marc Plumbing commitment to extending your tank life, increasing energy efficiency, and cutting waste — all with the aim of saving you money.
Water Heaters — Yesterday And Today Water heater maintenance is more crucial today than it ever has been before. Here's why:
| THEN |
NOW |
|
The steel tank was made with a thicker metal. |
The steel tank is made from a thinner metal. |
|
The glass lining applied to protect the tank from rusting was applied in two coats. |
The glass lining is applied in one coat. |
|
A lower fire rating created less fatigue to the metal. |
Higher fire rating = more metal fatigue. |
|
Some tanks were made of non-corrosive copper or monel metal. |
Copper and Monet are no longer economical to purchase. |
|
Water quality was better and gentler on tanks. |
Water is harder and more aggressive. |
|
Water softeners were not in use. |
Water softeners speed up the tank's corrosion rate. |
How Bob & Marc Plumbing keeps your water Heater Running At Its Peak
- REMOVE SEDIMENT BUILDUP As water is heated in a tank, minerals precipitate out and collect as sediment on the bottom. As this scale builds up in a gas heater, it slows the heat transfer from flame to water and causes overheating. The excess heat can damage the glass lining and weaken the steel. (If you've ever been awakened in the night by a popping or rumbling noise from your tank, it just might be damage to the glass lining.) When the sediment collects in electric heaters, it can cause element burn-out. Removing scale and sediment eliminates these problems and protects the life of the tank.
- REPLACE ANODE TO RENEW CORROSION PROTECTION All glass lined water heaters have rods of solid metal suspended in your tank. The sole purpose of these rods is to slowly corrode away so your tank will not. Called "sacrificial anodes," these rods "sacrifice" themselves to protect the steel tank from rusting. When an anode is no longer able to give sufficient protection, the steel tank has no choice but to rust through. To ensure tank longevity, rods should be checked every 2 to 3 years and replaced, if necessary. If you have very hard, acidic, or softened water, rods should be checked every 1 to 2 years.
- INSTALL CURVED DIP TUBE TO FACILITATE FLUSHING* We replace the conventional straight cold water inlet with a tube, which has a curve at the end, and we replace the tank's original (usually plastic) drain valve with an easily operated brass ball valve. As water enters the tank through the new tube, its swirling motion lifts sediment off the tank bottom, facilitating the flushing process.
* Standard equipment on new installations. Additional cost with maintenance service.
- CHECK AND REPAIR PIPE CONNECTIONS Even a young and well-maintained water heater can fail if its pipe connections are poor. Just as the magnesium anode corrodes instead of the steel tank, brass or copper fittings can corrode the hot and cold water connections located on the top of the heater. We use dielectric fittings to put distance between the dissimilar metals and reduce corrosion opportunities.
In short, water heater maintenance will save you time, money, and maybe even a few headaches. Call the experts at Bob & Marc Plumbing today — tomorrow may be too late!
Water Heaters — Just The Facts
FACT: Over 100 million water heaters are in use.
FACT: 655 water heaters are replaced every hour!
FACT: Over 8 million water heaters are replaced or installed on new construction yearly.
FACT: The average life of a water heater is 8-13 years, without maintenance.
FACT: Documentation shows that, with maintenance, water heaters will last 20, 30, 40 years or more!
FACT: The main elements that destroy water heaters are scale, internal rusting and external pipe leakage.
Now ask yourself: "Is it time for my water heater check-up?" If the answer is "yes," call Bob & Marc Plumbing today |
