Contact Water Cents

04 Aug

Hot Water during Hot Weather

The joys of a modern convenience – the hot water heater. Nothing beats taking a hot shower! And nothing is worse than stepping into a hot shower and having water be cold. Brrrr!

Hot water heaters, like us, don’t live forever. In a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, the average age of a failed hot water heater is 10.7 years.

Performing proper maintenance on your heater can help extend its life. The most beneficial thing you can do is to flush out the sediment every 6 months. A layer of sediment in the heater can act as a barrier to the function of the anode reducing the efficiency of the heater and ultimately, the life of the heater. To flush your water heater, attach a hose to the drain valve, let it drain and flush it until the water runs clear.

Additional maintenance includes having a plumbing professional inspect the heater, shut-off valve and piping on an annual basis.

Installing a leak detection system is a great way to protect your home from damage due to a failed water heater. Water leaking from the tank is an indication that it is time to change the heater. A leak detection system can be tied to the water heater, the incoming water valve or a home security system. This system can give you the opportunity to get the maximum life out of your heater yet, allow you to change the heater on your schedule, not its. Even more importantly, this could prevent the leak from causing damage to your home or your belongings. A leak detection system can be installed on a new or existing water heater.

If your heater is over 10 years old and you are thinking about changing your heater, now is a great time to upgrade to an energy efficient water heater. Now through August 31, NW Natural Gas and Oregon Energy Trust is offering up to a $250 rebate on an ENERGY STAR heater. Contact us to find out more about this offer, or go to nwnaturaloffers.com.