How To Prevent Water Heater Breakdowns

Probably the most common thing that people want to know about water heaters is:

HOW TO PREVENT WATER HEATER BREAKDOWNS

After being in this business for over 30 years, we at Hot Water 911 can tell you in one word:

MAINTENANCE

 When you buy a new car and you have invested a lot of money in this shiny new object, you want to make sure that it lasts for a long time.  After all, you need to depend on this new car to get you to work, to get you to commitments, to get you to your vacation destination.   You need that car to be reliable.  So, when the fuel gauge points toward “Empty”, you fill the tank up with gas.  When the windshield washer fluid is low, you fill it up.  When you have driven 3,000 miles, you change your oil.  When you have driven around 50,000 miles, you get new tires for the car.  When the car gets dirty, you wash it.  So, as a rule, you are diligent about the upkeep of your car because you would be lost without it.  You depend on your car.

The same should hold true for your hot water heater. Sadly, we tend not to think about our hot water heaters until something goes wrong.   So what can you do?

You can do some basic water heater maintenance yourself  with the simple steps shared here or you can have a water heater expert, like Hot Water 911, set you up with routine maintenance.

BASIC  ANNUAL WATER HEATER MAINTENANCE

1. Familiarize yourself with your water heater.  Read any instruction manuals that may have come with your water heater.  Look at the various components of your water heater so that you are comfortable with it.
2. Turn off the heat source to your water heater.  If it is an electric water heater, turn off the breaker to the tank.  If it is gas, turn off the gas leading to the water heater.
3. Turn off the water source to your water heater.
4. Attach a hose to the water drain spout at the bottom of your water heater tank and open the water drain valve and the pressure releasing valve to let the water run out of the tank into a floor drain.  The water may look dirty at first.  Let the water drain for about 30 minutes
5. Turn the water drain valve off and take off the hose.  Place a bucket under the water drain spigot and turn on the water to the tank.  Once you have turned the water back on to the tank, open the water drain valve and allow the tank to flush itself out into the waiting bucket.  After about 2 gallons of flushed water, the water should be clear.
6. Turn off the water drain valve and the pressure release valve.  Turn the water to the tank back on and fill the tank.
7. Once the tank is filled, turn the heat source to the tank back on.

This should be done once a year.  If you are at all unsure about this procedure, never take any chances….give your water heater expert a call so that they can complete this important maintenance for you.  If you didn’t know how to change the oil in your car, you wouldn’t take a chance and do something incorrectly…you would take it to your mechanic.  The same is true for your water heater.  When in doubt, always call the expert.  If, in your maintenance of the water heater you notice leaks around the tank or you find that the water never seems to get clear, you need to call your water heater expert so that they can diagnose and fix the problem.

At Hot Water 911, water heaters are what we do.  If you have questions about water heater maintenance or about anything water heater related, please email us or give us a call at

1-800 GO HOT WATER  ( 1-800-464-6892 )