What Maintenance Does a Water Heater Need?
Proper Maintenance Saves You Money
How long can you depend on your current water heating system to keep all your hot water flowing without any problems?
The life span of the most common water heater—units with a storage tank—can vary greatly, anywhere from 7 to 13 years. (Tankless, on-demand propane water heating units last much longer because water is not constantly sitting in a tank being heated).
How long your storage tank water heater lasts depends on multiple factors, including the temperature of the water that is set for the tank, the volume of water used, the overall quality of the water heater model and the water quality.
In terms of water quality. many people around the country must contend with “hard water,” which means their domestic water has a high amount of mineral content. In New York, our water is considered moderately hard. Manufacturers usually recommend that you flush your water heater on a yearly basis to remove any mineral particles, dirt or debris that has collected inside your tank. This will improve water heater efficiency and extend the life of your water heater.
To head off any problems with your water heater, it’s a wise idea to call on an experienced propane service technician, HVAC contractor or plumber to flush out your hot water storage tank once a year. Your service professional should also check the condition of the anode rod, which generally lasts from 3-5 years.
What Is an Anode Rod?
Storage tank water heaters contain many parts and components, including a long metal anode rod, which extends the life of your water heater by preventing corrosion from building up inside your tank.
Usually made of magnesium or aluminum, the anode rod does its job through a process called electrolysis. The metals in the anode rod attract ions that normally would cause rust in iron and steel. But instead, these ions latch onto the anode rod and as a result, cause it to degrade over time. Without the anode rod, your water heater could rust out in just a few years. That’s why it’s important to replace the anode rod after it degrades.
In general, all storage tank water heaters have an anode rod, regardless of fuel type. The one exception is if you have a stainless-steel tank, which is immune from corrosion.
Tankless Water Heater Maintenance
While propane gas tankless water heaters don’t require anode rods, they do need some periodic maintenance to keep them running properly. Besides an annual flushing, it is recommended that the air filter and water filter be cleaned.
Read more about water heater maintenance for your tankless propane unit.
Propane Water Heaters
If you’re looking to upgrade your water heating system, propane is the way to go! Propane provides more hot water faster, with better energy efficiency than other options.
Propane water heaters also take up less space, have more accurate temperature adjustment and offer more size and installation options.
NY Rebates for Propane Water Heaters
As you consider your water heating requirements, or if you need some help figuring out what’s most important, get in touch with your New York propane service company. They’ll be glad to walk you through the process and help you get a better understanding of your household’s hot water needs. They can also tell you all about current New York rebates that will help you save money on a propane water heater as well as other propane heating equipment.
It’s important to note that when you want to install propane-powered equipment, it’s essential that you bring in a licensed technician. Propane equipment is extremely safe when installed properly. But as with all energy sources, improper installation can be dangerous. Certified propane technicians have the training, experience, and tools to do the job quickly, correctly and safely.
This is largely because of the Certified Employee Training Program (CETP), which is run under the direction of the Propane Education & Research Council. What’s more, you can only take advantage of available equipment rebates if your installation is inspected for safety with a Gas Check®.
Please speak to your propane appliance provider about this inspection.