Beat the Heat and Boost Efficiency: Your Summer Water Heater Maintenance Guide

Why Summer is a Great Time for Water Heater Maintenance

Water heaters may have to work harder in the winter, but the summer season can bring some advantages. Maintenance tasks like flushing the tank or checking connections for leaks can be a little easier when you don’t have to worry about freezing temperatures. Plus, it’s smart to do maintenance now to avoid any potential issues when winter arrives and you’re demanding more from your water heater.

Call A Professional or Perform Maintenance Yourself?

At Bradford White, we manufacture high-quality, Built to be the Best^® products for professional installation and maintenance. Your plumbing professional can perform all the maintenance tasks listed above quickly and make sure your water heater is working at peak performance and efficiency. This can save you money in lower energy costs and by preventing expensive “emergency” repairs down the road.

Don’t have a plumber handy? You can find a local qualified Bradford White professional through our Contractor Finder in just a few minutes.

“Must Do” Water Heater Maintenance in Summer

Your plumbing professional will likely perform the following tasks to help prevent breakdowns, improve performance, and ultimately maintain the efficiency of your water heater to help lower your energy costs.

1. Flushing the Tank to Remove Sediment

Over time, minerals in your water can accumulate at the bottom of your water heater. This sediment acts as a barrier, making it more difficult for your water heater to heat water effectively. As a result, your water heater has to work harder which can significantly reduce its efficiency. As sediment buildup gets worse, you may hear popping noises. Eventually, the sediment can actually shorten your water heater’s lifespan.

Your plumbing professional will turn off the water, power, and/or gas supply to your water heater, connect a hose to the drain valve, and drain your water heater to a floor drain or to the outside to remove the sediment.

Bradford White Tip: Regular flushing (at least once a year) will help maintain optimal efficiency and can extend the life of your water heater.

2. Test the Temperature and Pressure (T&P) Relief Valve

Your water heater has a number of key features to ensure your safety. The Temperature and Pressure (T&P) Relief Valve is designed to release pressure if the temperature or pressure in the tank gets too high.

Your plumbing professional will test the relief valve to make sure it’s operating properly to keep you and your family safe.

Bradford White Tip: One of the most important reasons to have regular maintenance performed is to ensure that your water heater is operating safely and that all safety systems are in proper working order.

3. Inspect for Leaks and Corrosion

As a routine part of your maintenance visit, your plumbing professional will visually inspect your water heater for any leaks around the tank, pipes, or valves. This can include rust or corrosion on the connection or the bottom of your tank. Even a small drip could indicate that a larger problem may be developing.

Bradford White Tip: Early detection of leaks can save you money in several ways. First, by catching a leak early you may avoid a costly repair. Second, by preventing a larger leak you can avoid costly water damage. Also by catching problems early, you can hopefully avoid the inconvenience of an emergency repair or replacement where you may be out of hot water for an extended period of time.

4. Check Anode Rod

The anode rod is often called the “sacrificial rod.” It’s designed to sacrifice itself to maintain tank integrity and defend against the corrosive effects of hot water. By sacrificing itself, it protects the tank from rust and corrosion. But when your anode rod is spent, your tank is at greater risk for corrosion.

Your plumbing professional will inspect the anode rod and replace it if necessary. Replacing a worn anode rod can help prolong the life of your water heater. However, if your water heater is getting old, this might be a sign that it’s time to consider upgrading your old water heater with a new, energy efficient model.

Bradford White Tip: Bradford White recommends inspecting the anode rod as part of your regular maintenance by a plumbing professional. Replacing the anode rod may help prolong the life of your water heater.

Save Money with these Summer Energy Efficiency Tips

These simple adjustments could significantly reduce your energy consumption and help lower your energy bills this summer.

Insulate Your Water Heater Tank and Pipes

Even in summer, heat loss can still occur, especially if your home is air conditioned. Foam pipe insulation can be applied to the pipes connected to the tank to reduce standby heat loss.

Ask your plumbing professional if this insulation makes sense for your water heater.

Reduce Hot Water Use

Since there is higher demand for hot water in the winter, summer is a great time to cut back a little. Take shorter (or cooler!) showers, wash laundry with cold water, and be sure to only run your dishwasher when it’s completely full. These small adjustments can really add up to reduce the energy your water heater uses and help lower your energy costs.