A water heater is an appliance in the home which can actually cost you quite a bit of money each year if not properly maintained. Water heaters make hot water available by keeping a tank full of water heated even when not in use. Water heaters are notorious for breaking down; however, many of these breakdowns could be avoided by simply keeping the unit properly maintained. Doing so will save you the expense of having to call a local plumbing company to handle the problem for you.

The average temperature of the water in a water heater should be around 120 degrees. Keeping the temperature set higher than this is usually not necessary. This only results in causing your water heater to work more than it needs to and can shorten its life span.

Also, another thing which can shorten the lifespan of your water heater is sediment in the bottom of the tank. Over time, minerals and other sediment will accumulate in the bottom of your water heater. Occasionally flushing this material out you can keep the water heater working efficiently and lasting longer. There should be a drain in the bottom of the water heater which will allow you to place a bucket underneath this drain and siphon off some of the water. This will help flush some of the sediment out with the water from the bottom of the tank.

An insulated hot water tank blanket can also be a good idea. This can help increase the lifespan of your water heater by keeping the tank better insulated and avoiding heat loss. This heat loss will cause the water here to work more than it needs to to keep the water at the desired temperature. These insulated blankets will often pay for themselves within the first year through increased efficiency.

Follow these simple tips and you should experience an increase in the lifespan of your water heater. Just remember to keep the temperature set low and utilize an insulated water heater blanket. Also, partially drain the water heater at least once a year.

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