Your water heater works quietly in the background every day. It gives you warm showers and clean dishes. Safe to say, hot water is a privilege to enjoy these days. But most people don’t really care for their heaters until something goes wrong. What if we told you it does not require that much? Just a little bit of care, and you can make it last longer and work better. Come along because this blog is all about practical tips to extend water heater life. And with help from Eco Plumbing, keeping your water heater healthy doesn’t have to be hard.

How Neglect Can Shorten Water Heater Life 

Many homeowners shorten their water heater’s life without even realizing it. When they start skipping necessary maintenance, small problems don’t stay small for long. Furthermore, people like to ignore strange noises coming from the heaters because “they will go away eventually.” They also don’t realize that setting the temperature too high can slowly damage the system. It is important to know that your water heater needs attention, too. We believe understanding what causes wear and tear is the first step to keeping it running longer. So this is what this blog is about. 

6 Tips To Extend Water Heater Life Expectancy

As we stated earlier, water heater maintenance is not that complicated. 

Keep reading to learn how to take care of your water heater 

Keep the Temperature at a Safe Level

We are sure that turning the water temperature up too high might feel nice. But do you know it puts extra stress on your heater? Yes, hotter water makes the system work harder than it needs to. What we are suggesting here is that a steady setting helps protect internal parts. Don’t worry, you will still have hot water to enjoy when you keep the temperature balance. It’s just a simple way to support a longer water heater life and reduce strain on the unit.

Flush the Tank to Remove Buildup

This one is one of the most overlooked parts of water heater maintenance. Slowly but surely, tiny bits of dirt and minerals settle at the bottom of the tank. This buildup makes your heater less efficient. It is what causes the most popping or rumbling sounds. All you have to do here is flush the tank at least once a year to clear out this debris. 

Flushing tank = clean = the system doesn’t have to work as hard = helps extend water heater life

Check for Leaks and Drips

As a homeowner, you would know that small leaks can cause big damage if ignored. Even a slow drip can wear down parts or cause rust. Just take a quick look around your water heater every so often. It is not that hard. If you see water where it shouldn’t be, it’s time to act. Catching leaks early will support a longer water heater life.

Don’t Ignore Strange Noises

If your water heater starts making new sounds, it’s trying to tell you something. And we are trying to tell you that unusual noises mean there is a buildup or pressure inside the tank. 

Here is what to do 

Water heaters come with a temperature and pressure relief valve that acts as a safety guard. The valve opens to protect the unit when pressure builds up too much. Although dirt and sediment can cause it to fail. That’s why you have to check the valve every now and then to protect your water heater. 

Schedule Regular Professional Checkups

Some problems are hard to spot without training. A professional inspection helps catch issues in a way you would never expect. Our professionals at Eco Plumbing can check valves, connections, and internal parts. In most cases, water heater issues are not that serious, and one or two components can easily be repaired. But for that, regular checkups are important to help prevent surprise breakdowns. This is the only way to support a healthy water heater life. 

Use Hot Water Wisely

Are you someone who takes long, hot showers in the morning? Let us just say that using hot water wisely is kind of necessary to reduce strain on your system. Some habits, like spacing out showers or using energy-efficient appliances, can make a major difference as well. Your water heater stays in better shape when it does not have to work nonstop. Trust us, these small choices add up and help improve overall water heater life.

Wrapping Up

The combination of simple habits and regular care will help extend your water heater’s life. Stuff like keeping the temperature balanced, watching for leaks, flushing the tank, and scheduling checkups can help your system last longer. You don’t need to be an expert. Just a little attention goes a long way. If you want to enjoy reliable hot water, you can also always get support from Eco Plumbing. 

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