3 Things You Should Know About
Your Water Heater

If you bought your water heater thinking you had just acquired the ever elusive “perpetual motion machine,” we’re sorry to disappoint you, but it’s anything but that.

In fact, water heaters are mechanical systems with an average shelf life of 10 – 15 years, and likely considerably less than that without proper and faithful maintenance. So, in an effort to help you maximize your investment in a steady supply of hot water for your laundry, showering, cleaning, and related needs, we’re pleased to present the following three facts about your water heater you would do well to keep in mind:

Fact #1 – Annual Maintenance Makes a World of Difference

When water enters the storage tank of your water heater, it’s not alone. Inside the incoming water are various levels of sediment and minerals that build up and adhere to the inside walls of your tank. Left alone for a long enough period of time, they can cause internal corrosion, repair problems, and even premature failure of your water heater. To help protect your investment and keep your water heater in top working order for as long as possible, we recommend annual system maintenance. Among other things, we can flush your tank to get rid of sediment and mineral content while checking to make sure there are no cracks that could lead to gas or carbon monoxide leaks. Which means annual maintenance isn’t just important to the well-being of your water heater, but to every member of your family.

Fact #2 – Your Gas Water Heater Could Start a Fire

For your added safety and protection, we advise you to keep all flammable materials and liquids as far away from your water heater as possible. Should the pilot light come in contact with things like cleaning fluids, cans of paint or varnish, or oil soaked rags, they can ignite, thus leading to a potential disastrous outcome.

Fact #3 – Your Water Heater Won’t Last Forever

Yes, you can prolong the efficiency and lifespan of your water heater with proper preventative care, but it still won’t last forever – it just wasn’t built that way. So how do you know when, perhaps, the end is approaching? Through telltale signs like these:

• Longer recovery times
• Less hot water supply than you’re accustomed to
• Loud noises
• Sudden loss of hot water

At the first sign of trouble, we invite you to contact Your 1 Plumber for fast and decisive action. Perhaps your water heater can be repaired affordably, thus avoiding the need to replace it at that time. But either way, we’ll give you our best advice and a guaranteed upfront price to repair or replace it so you can make the best decision for your family and budget. And that’s the kind of advice you always can count on from Your 1 Plumber.