Make Your Water Heater Have A Longer Lifespan Home Improvement Plumbing by Savannah Coulsen - October 9, 2014October 9, 2014 A Guide To Making Your Water Heater Have A Longer Lifespan Your water heater is definitely one of the most essential appliances in your home, especially during the winter. Without it, you would be taking some pretty cold showers. If you want your water heater to last you years and years, you have to take proper care of it. Here are some helpful tips for making your water heater have a longer lifespan. Drain It Once a Year If you want to keep your water heater in the best shape possible, it is very important to drain it once a year. Sediment and other particles tend to accumulate at the bottom of the tank and can make your water heater work a lot harder than it needs to. Just attach a garden hose to your water heater’s drain and turn the water on. Then, just let all the water drain out the sediment. Insulate It With a Blanket Another way you can increase the lifespan of your water heater is to insulate it with a blanket. If you put a blanket over the water heater, it will not have to use as much energy to heat up you water, which will help it last longer. Image credit – http://www.amyottesplumbing.ca/ Lower the Temperature If you usually set your water heater at 130 degrees or above, you should consider lowering it to about 120 degrees. If the temperature is lower, your water heater will be less likely to overheat. Get a Professional Water Heater Inspection Even if your water heater is new, you should still get it inspected by a professional like Amyotte’s Plumbing & Heating Ltd., St. Albert plumbers. A plumber will inspect your water heater for corrosion, leaks and others problems. If he finds an issue with your water heater, he can fix it before it gets too big. Check the Pressure Relief Valve It is also a good idea to inspect the pressure relief valve once a year to make sure the safety device is not clogged up. Just put a bucket under the copper overflow pipe and gently push the pressure valve. If no water comes out, you should replace the valve as soon as possible. If you take extra good care of your water heater, you will not have to replace it for a long time. If your water heater is rusting, leaking or not operating as efficiently as usual, you should get it checked out by a professional plumber as soon as possible.