Tank Water Heaters
The styles of water heaters will change how regularly and what kind of maintenance you need. The only major difference between maintenance of gas, propane and electric heaters is how you turn off the heater before performing maintenance.
One of the most common styles of water heater is a tank style water heater. The tank is typically located in a crawl space or garage. It will be easy to identify as a large cylindrical tank.
The main service provided to keep your tank style water heater working great is an annual tank flush. This is to remove scale and residue from the bottom of the tank that would otherwise cause the tank to work harder and also contaminate the water.
During your tank maintenance, the Colorado Springs plumber will inspect the gauges, valves and overall condition of the tank to make sure that there are no potential problems that you should be aware of. This can mean the difference between a surprise ice cold shower and a warm bath in the future.
Tankless Water Heaters
While most tank style water heaters typically require service at least once a year, tankless water heaters require maintenance based on the hardness of your water and overall water consumption.
Some areas of Colorado Springs are notorious for heavy mineral content in the tap water so that is something to consider when deciding how often you should service your water heater.
Not sure if you have hard water or not? A clear indication of the mineral levels of your tap water is whether or not your sinks, tubs and toilets develop a residue or "scale" quickly. This usually shows as either a blue, white or yellowish staining in your plumbing fixtures.
Another way to tell is to pick up a cheap water testing kit. Determining the hardness of your water is a quick and easy process.
Once you have an idea of how hard your water is, you should consult with a Colorado Springs plumber to determine how often your style of water heater should be serviced to ensure that it is working optimally.
The plumber will ask you a few questions about the size of your household and how much water you use regularly. This will give them an idea of an optimal maintenance schedule. Because tankless water heaters usually cost more to install initially, it is important to keep your fixture working its best so you get the most from your investment.
Have additional questions? We're happy to answer them. Give us a call for a free consultation 719-232-4720. We offer 24/7 maintenance for your plumbing needs.