Plumbing is a crucial part of any home and one of the most critical aspects of your plumbing is the hot water system. This makes sense because we use hot water for so many things. For example, we wash our clothes in heated water, we clean our dishes with it as well, but most importantly we wash ourselves with warm water. Considering how critical hot water is to our families it is a little surprising that we pay so little attention to our Water Heaters Colorado Springs.
Water Heaters Colorado Springs are actually quite reliable items. This could be because they are simple products which are well designed, however, they are not perfect. For example, electric water heaters use an electrode which is immersed in the tank. Over time this electrode will collect deposits which restrict the heat and eventually the electrode will fail and the system will need repair. With gas based water heaters the heat source is outside the tank, usually at the bottom. These are often more reliable systems, but they require a properly ventilated installation area so the exhaust does not accumulate.
In spite of their simplicity, Water Heaters Colorado Springs can benefit from a regular inspection and maintenance program. Much of this could be performed by the homeowner, but it may be better to have an expert plumber such as those at Always Plumbing & Heating perform the task. The things to look for are leaks of any sort, pooling water around the pipes or fittings, testing the pressure relief valve and ensuring the overflow drain is working properly. One other thing you may wish to check is calcium or lime buildup in the bottom of the tank.
Checking Water Heaters Colorado Springs for mineral deposits in the tank is fairly easy in most instances. The majority of the hot water tanks available have a water valve on the bottom which you can easily attach a hose to. Once you have fastened the hose you can drain some of the water into a bucket to see if you catch any scale deposits. In some cases you may be required to drain the tank completely because the water will block the minerals from exiting until the water level is low.