Living in Houston we don’t always need hot water, but it’s nice to have them when you need them. If your hot showers aren’t lasting as long as they used to, your water heater could have a sediment problem. Sediment builds up in neglected water heater tanks over time, taking up space, causing corrosion, and impairing overall performance. Help prevent water heater repairs in Houston, Dallas or wherever you call home, by fighting back this threat with the following guide.
Where Does Sediment in Water Heaters Come From?
Sediment build up is one of those problems that doesn’t happen in a day, a week, or even a month; it builds slowly, getting progressively worse over time.
The great enemies here are gravity and time. All water piped into your home naturally contains minerals. When water sits still over long stretches, these materials separate. Water heaters—with their mineral-rich municipal water and stationary tanks—are a perfect setting for this separation to occur. Additionally, when municipalities flush water lines, sediment can find it’s way into your water heater unit. If left unchecked, sediment buildup in the bottom of a water heater tank can become a major issue that will eventually cause you to need water heater repair in Houston.
The great enemies here are gravity and time. All water piped into your home naturally contains minerals. When water sits still over long stretches, these materials separate. Water heaters—with their mineral-rich municipal water and stationary tanks—are a perfect setting for this separation to occur. Additionally, when municipalities flush water lines, sediment can find it’s way into your water heater unit. If left unchecked, sediment buildup in the bottom of a water heater tank can become a major issue that will eventually cause you to need water heater repair in Houston.
Why Is Sediment Build Up Harmful?
Sediment build up can cause a host of problems in a water heater tank. To start, sediment takes up space in a water heater tank, allowing less room for the storage of hot water. Since a heating unit will heat sediment in addition to water, the build up of these minerals can hurt your unit’s energy efficiency. Finally, sediment throws the natural heat transfer of your water heater tank off-balance, concentrating heat to the bottom of your unit. Too much heat can cause your heating element to burn out and fail.
How Can You Prevent Sediment Buildup?
Fortunately, you can easily prevent sediment buildup through routine maintenance. If you’re particularly meticulous, draining a couple gallons of water out of your water heater once a month will prevent sediment problems. If sediment has already built up in your tank, you’ll need to drain out all of the water and rinse sediment out of the bottom. To do this yourself safely, shut the unit’s power source off and run a hot water tap until the water is lukewarm to prevent scalding when you open up the valves.
When it comes to clearing major sediment buildup from your water heater, it’s best to get the professional help of a licensed plumber. Learn more Houston water heater repair and maintenance tips at our Ask the Expert page. If you’re interested in how a 24-hour Houston plumber keeps water heaters in working order, visit our website.
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