It is easy to forget about your water heater until you are suddenly standing in a freezing cold shower. However, waiting for a breakdown to happen is a stressful and costly mistake.
Whether you have a traditional tank or a modern tankless system, all manufacturers state that your water heater must be flushed and serviced annually. Routine maintenance is the only way to prevent scale buildup, ensure maximum energy efficiency, maximize the lifespan of your unit, and keep your manufacturer warranties valid.
But what does a real water heater service look like? It is much more than just hooking up a hose and draining some water. This is why annual water heater maintenance is non-negotiable:
Tanked Water Heater Maintenance
Over time, mineral deposits and sediment settle at the bottom of standard water heater tanks, forcing the system to work harder to heat the water. While a thorough tank flush is critical, a complete service requires inspecting the core components:
Electric Units: A proper inspection includes testing both the upper and lower thermostats and checking the continuity of the heating elements to ensure they are drawing the correct amount of power.
Gas Units: A comprehensive service includes inspecting the burner assembly, the Gas Control Valve (GCV), and the exhaust venting to ensure carbon monoxide is safely drafting out of your home.
The Truth About Tankless Water Heater Maintenance
Because tankless water heaters heat water on demand, they are highly susceptible to scale buildup inside their narrow heat exchangers.
Many homeowners (and even some inexperienced plumbers) believe a tankless service is just a simple flush and descale. This is a misconception. A proper, manufacturer-approved tankless service is highly technical and should also include:
- Cleaning the water inlet screens and air inlet screens.
- Cleaning and inspecting the flame rod.
- Checking and cleaning the flow sensor.
A Word of Caution: It is highly recommended that you do not attempt to perform a flush and service on a tankless water heater without proper training. Using the wrong descaling solution, applying improper pressure, or mishandling the internal sensors can cause severe damage to the unit and instantly void your warranty.
Join the NCWaterHeaters.com LLC Membership Program
At NCWaterHeaters.com LLC, we are experts in all things water heating. We know that remembering to schedule your annual maintenance can be a hassle, which is why we created our Water Heater Membership Program.
When you join, we take the guesswork out of your home maintenance. Our licensed professionals will perform a comprehensive, multi-point flush and service on your exact system every year, ensuring it runs flawlessly so you never have to worry about an unexpected cold shower.
Our Service Areas: We proudly provide expert water heating solutions to homeowners across the region, including:
- Raleigh
- Durham
- Chapel Hill
- Cary
- Apex
- Morrisville
- Angier
- Fuquay-Varina
- Clayton
- Wake Forest