How to Properly Maintain Your Water Heater

Last Updated on December 15, 2023 by Jason Nguyen

Taking care of your water geyser in the wintertime is extremely important. These are very high-powered devices that contain hot water at very high pressures. For potential risks there is electricity or a flame, there is hot water, steam, and many places throughout the plumbing where problems can occur.

Problems with the water heater cannot only negatively impact the water heater but can also cause problems in the piping, in the electrical connection, if they are installed indoors, it can be a major safety hazard. Ideally, you should have your water heaters and the relevant systems checked every season, and rather than repairing any faulty parts definitely consider replacing them.

A problem in one part of the system will place excessive amounts of stress on other parts of the machinery and this can have a very bad outcome. By using these useful tips in maintaining your geysers not only can you ensure your safety and the safety of your loved ones but you can decrease your water consumption and even save money on the energy bill.

1.  Geyser Installation

gas water heater in the bathroom

The first thing to ensure is that the geyser has been installed correctly. The main things to look out for, in the case of a wall-mounted geyser, are that the wall brackets are secure and that the geyser is not leaning in any direction. Make sure all the piping is securely fitted and do a test run of the appliance before putting it into operation.

2.  Only Use When Necessary

In most homes and even businesses, a geyser is an appliance that is used much like the fridge, it is constantly on whether someone is using hot water or not.

The best-case scenario is that you know when you need to use hot water and you switch the geyser on half an hour to an hour prior and switch it off after you are done using it.

When the geyser is constantly on the electric thermostat is constantly being used and this promotes a buildup of scale on the thermostat. Too much scale on the thermostat will compromise the efficiency with which it is able to heat the water.

More importantly, this will cause your energy consumption to rise over time. In the case that the geyser becomes empty the thermostat is at a high risk of cracking, deforming, or even exploding from running dry.

3.  Use The Right Settings

In some areas, the water that is being pumped through the city water supply is not freezing cold. In order to get it to the boiling point, you don’t need to push your geyser that hard.

Having it at full power will reduce the time it takes but it will increase the amount of steam in the system. According to the geyser technicians at waterheaterleakinginfo.com, it is this excessive build-up of steam that can cause unnecessary wear and tear on the safety valve.

Also, it places a lot of stress on the welds around the storage tank and over time it decreases the integrity of the tank. Having the right setting will also optimize how much electricity you use to heat the water up. More advanced geysers that have digital thermostats can control this automatically.

4.  Check Safety Valves

If you don’t have safety valves on your storage-type geyser, you definitely need to get these. This is the valve that releases excess steam and can also help drain off excess water in the tank. In some cases when the steam builds up, it can cause the cold water to get pushed back, causing all kinds of problems in your plumbing.

The most common issue is when you have hot water coming out of the cold taps. It’s also important that you check the condition of the safety valve. Old safety valves can get blocked rendering them useless for the task. Eventually, this will cause the same problems that you would expect from a geyser that doesn’t have a safety valve installed.

5.  Ensure Pipe Strength

A lot of DIY installers make the mistake of using cold water pipes for the geysers’ water connections. These are usually plastic pipes, or they are nylon with plastic on the inside, or they are steel pipes with plastic seals. Under high pressure, these fittings can deform or melt and block the waterways.

This will not only disturb the water supply in the house but can be extremely dangerous if it goes unnoticed and the pressure continues to build up. Similarly, with too much pressure these plastic pipes can easily explode, they can snap off the connection point or they can deform and impair the performance of the water heater.

cold water pipe

Lastly, water heaters use a lot of electricity to operate and it is not a wise choice to plug them into standard power sockets or use regular wiring for them. The best solution is to check the wattage of your geyser and select a wire gauge that is appropriate for that wattage.

Secondly, the sockets should also be rated to handle that kind of power. Ideally, consider using the same sockets that you would use for an air conditioner or heavy electrical machinery. Also, use three-pin connectors rather than the standard two-pin to ensure that the connection does not become loose and there is less of a chance of a spark in the connection.

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Jason is a respected home and garden expert and a well-established figure in the digital media industry. He is the founder of KKMediaGroup.com, a leading online platform providing high-quality content on home improvement, DIY projects, gardening, and more. His passion for creating engaging, value-driven content has made KKMediaGroup.com a go-to resource for home and garden enthusiasts. In addition to his work with KKMediaGroup, Jason co-founded FarmFoodFamily.com, a website dedicated to offering practical advice and innovative ideas on farming, food, and family. His entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to sharing knowledge and expertise have played a significant role in the success of both platforms.