Water heaters are a vital part of our homes. Without them we couldn't wash dishes, take showers or for most of you wash clothes. Of course these things could still get done with cold water but not as efficiently as with hot.
There are some simple things you can do to make your water heater last for years beyond the manufactures set calculation.
First let me go over some of the know reasons why a water heater may act up. If your in an area like mine the biggest problem is lime and calcium build up in the bottom of the tank. I didn't realize I had a problem until we started getting sporadic hot water during showers. What had happened was the build up reached the point of touching and covering the bottom heating element and caused it to break. One top element wasn't enough to heat water as fast as we were using it.
Another common reason for problems is general over use. It's common for a family to grow and over tax their water system. This is apparent when you experience a certain level of discomfort while showering or washing dishes.
So now what can you do to help prevent your water heater from leaving you in the cold. First thing to do is to determine the age of your unit and get generally comfortable with where it is, how it's positioned and how it functions. Most of the biggest problems people have with their homes is discomfort of knowledge. Get to know where things are and how they work. Don't be afraid to touch and tinker with the things that are bringing you your comfort. Knowledge is power.
If your unit turns out to be over 15 years old you can keep it running for years to come but the price you'll pay in energy to use it will start to pass the cost of running a new unit. Consider this the time to put a line in your budget to save up for a new unit in a year or so.
If your under 15 then let us discuss some maintenance...
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