Heating, Cooling and HVAC

Why you should drain your water heater.
As water is heated, minerals are released from the (hard) water and left behind in the tank resulting in poor efficiency and shorter water heater life.

Use extreme caution when draining hot water heaters—the water might scald you. To further conserve energy, flush the hot water heater after bathing, washing clothes, or cleaning dishes when less hot water is in the tank.

Open the drain at the bottom of heater twice a year, letting the water run into a bucket or attach hose and run to drain until it looks clear (usually about 5 gallons). Prevents hard water sediment accumulation. (Good reason to have a water softener).

Electric water heater? Make sure you turn off the power before draining. If you don’t you could destroy the heating elements.

1. Please Note: After many years of experience, sometimes a drain that’s never been opened before, especially an old plastic drain, will leak when closed. If it does a new drain valve will be needed.

If you don’t feel comfortable with this chore, ask a professional like PDM for help.

2.Temperature-pressure relief pressure - test buildup by lifting or depressing its handle and draining water from the overflow pipe once a year. If water doesn’t drain out, shut off water to the heater, open a hot water faucet somewhere in the house, replace valve.

Due to the scalding potential of the hot water, the outlet from the valve should be piped to a safe area. Typically they are piped down into a drain line. Check with your local building department for local building code requirements related to the relief valve discharge.

3. Anode rod is a metal rod usually magnesium or aluminum which helps prevent corrosion of the metal tank. Electrolysis eats away the metal anode instead of the metal of the tank. Once the anode is gone the tank itself begins to corrode. To prolong the life of the tank, make sure your anode rod is still there, and replace it when needed. The anode is screwed into the top of the tank and can be replaced. Sometimes the anode is built into a special outlet fitting

4. Gas burner, heater operation. May need to clean burner. Dirt causes poor combustion, wastes energy up to 15%

5. Ensure sufficient draft upstream to make sure deadly carbon monoxide gases leave the building

6. Water Temperature Time to Produce Serious Burn
120°F More than 5 minutes (best setting)
125°F 11/2 to 2 minutes
130°F About 30 seconds
135°F About 10 seconds
140°F Less than 5 seconds
145°F Less than 3 seconds
150°F About 11/2 seconds
155°F About 1 second

7. Dip tube is a long narrow tube that directs incoming cold liquid to the bottom of the tank. If a dip tube is broken, it may seem as though you run out very quickly, or you just get a luke warm temperature.

Source:www.pdmsince1885.com