There are a number of ways that the water heater you’ve installed in your residences can die, just like that. And you won’t know it’s not working until there are obvious signs to show you need help. And you’d be calling in the pros such as the Mesa Plumbing Company who with their commitment to serving the wide client base, will surely have a number of services to meet your individual demands, whether it’s a mobile home or otherwise.
But what made you wait so long if you wanted your heater to last you at least a decade if not longer? Why then were the water leaks and rust not prevented? Neglect is a destructive force. You may or may not know that your water heater needs maintenance when you bought it, had it installed, and then forgot about it altogether. Or perhaps the reason you were ignoring it was because you did not know how to go about it.
But if you want to overcome it and prevent it, here’s what we suggest you do besides checking in with reputable companies for help!
Rake Up the Sediment Buildup
The minerals from hard water and the rust from the anode rod tend to settle at the bottom of the water heater. This is the sediment layer that separates the water heater’s burner and your hot water. It’s no surprise that this makes the heater struggle in being able to heat the water properly. There’s bacteria to deal with apart from how you end up wasting electricity, overheating the tank too, which starts to deteriorate.
Once it begins to melt away, it will leak and burst. You’d incur costly water damage. The least you can do is drain and flush the heater once a year.
Replace the Anode
You need to turn off the power to the heater as well as the cold-water inlet valve. Now, if you look at the top of the water heater, you’d notice a 3-5 foot rod made of either magnesium, aluminum, or zinc or a combination of them. Unscrew the bolt, pull it up and out of the heater. For a rusted rod, you’d need the assistance of experts to remove it.
This is your anode rod and it’s supposed to save the tank from rusting. In other words, it establishes the longevity of the steel water heater. During the process, the metal(s) used corrode than the steel. But once it corrodes, the tanker’s bound to follow.
While this may happen over time, water softeners usually are to blame for speeding up the process. When the anode is used up, it needs to be changed accordingly or at most when it’s “down to the wire”. If not, it’ll birth rust and consequently leaks.
Normally, for a six-year warranty heater, you may check it like near the end of the period. However, with softeners, you should check once a year or two at most, replacing it every 4-5 years. Other factors determining the replacement include the quality of the tank’s internal lining; anode metal used; and how frequently you use the hot water.