Your hot water system has no doubt been getting a workout these past few months, with temperatures dipping to chilly levels across Perth. Because of this, it is vital to regularly check and maintain your system to help keep it running smoothly and to reduce the chances of it suddenly failing.
Here’s some ways you can help keep your system in tip-top shape:
Regularly check the system for cracks – Once a month, you should give your hot water system a thorough check from top to bottom, keeping an eye out for any cracks, leaks or other wear and tear. Picking up on these problems early on will help you avoid costly maintenance in the long run.
Turn your system off if you are going away on holidays – this isn’t necessary if you are going away for a few days, but if you are going away for a number of weeks, it is suggested that you turn off both the power and water supply to your heater. This will help not only to conserve energy, but also to prevent the accumulation of hydrogen gas in the top of the heater.
Inspect the relief valve – once every six months, make it a habit to check that the Temperature Pressure Relief valve is operating correctly. This will help prevent the system from failing or exploding. To find out the correct way to do this, you should check the manual that came with your system, or if you can’t find the manual, check on Google. The usual way to check the valve is to lift the lever for 10 seconds. When you do this, water should flow from the relief pipe at the bottom of the tank, and when you release the lever this flow should stop. If this happens, your valve is working correctly.
Get your hot water system regularly serviced by a professional – as with many products, if you do not have a professional service at the recommended intervals, your product warranty may become invalid. Check the manual to find out how regularly your system needs to be serviced. Most systems should be serviced once a year, during which a professional will pick up any problems, or potential problems, saving you money in the long run. It is also recommended that tempering valve, Temperature Pressure Relief valve and anode are replaced, or at the very least inspected, every five years.
