Well I don’t know where you are reading this but I’m at my home in Vero Beach, Fl where the only way you can know that its winter is that neighbors you haven’t seen all summer all of a sudden show back up and the neighborhood and streets are full of cars with strange license plates from far away and foreign places like Rhode Island, Connecticut , and Canada. There are so many Canadians down here that they have their own banks. I don’t know what the banks do during the summer I guess they just sit there waiting for their customers to return and probably holding their hands out for spare bailout money from our government, but I digress. I got in my car this evening and smelled the telltale smell of heat that hasn’t been on in many months instead of cool air conditioning and my thoughts turned to things we should all be doing to get ready for winter.
As always one of the frequent questions that I answer and have blogged extensively about is the water heater. Colder weather makes it even more important that your water heater is functioning well so an inspection either by yourself or more preferably by a paid professional. There are several common preventive measures you can take with your water heater however, to prevent a failed water heater and a subsequent loss of hot water. The primary being the draining and thorough cleaning at least on an annual basis. If your water heater is making odd noises chances are there is sediment building up in the tank due to corrosion. Draining the tank can sometimes cure the problem. Other times, however, it is a sign that water heater element or the water heater itself has reached the end of its life. Water heaters typically have a short lifespan of 5-10 years. You should also inspect for any leakage. Many times the temperature and pressure relief valve will drain outside or into a plumbed drain so you should always be aware if there is any drainage coming from the T&P valve. If you have a fuel fired heater another thing to check is for a partial blockage of the flue and not allowing proper air flow. This could cause an uneven burn of the fuel which could lead to the dangerous situation of carbon monoxide generation which has taken many lives of families while they slept especially during the winter time when the home is sealed more tightly and the HVAC system may only be working sporadically. Remember adequately burning fuel will glow a blue flame.
Beyond the inspection, if you’ve owned a home long enough, chances are you have experienced the morning where you turn on the shower to find no hot water. Water heaters fail for many reasons and always at the wrong time.
One of the most common gas or fuel fired water heater problems is a pilot light that has gone out and will not relight, or the electrical igniter will not fire. Check to make sure that there is gas or oil in the tank and that the fuel valve to the water heater has not been inadvertently turned off. If you are convinced fuel is getting to the water heater, then you will probably need to call a heating repair service to change out the thermocouple or electrical igniter. Thermocouples and electrical igniters frequently fail if they are old and exposed to dust and dirty oil.
If you have an electric water heater the heating elements frequently burn out due to corrosion that occurs inside the water tank. Usually a heating repair service or plumber can quickly replace the heating coil element or if you are adept at light plumbing and electrical work you may be able to do it yourself but be aware that you are dealing with 220v power and a wet environment and that can be a fatal combination. I know how to change out an element and would still call a pro.
If your hot water is either too hot or cold chances are the water heater’s thermostat has either been inadvertently adjusted, failed, or has been damaged. If appears the thermostat has been inadvertently adjusted, try adjusting it yourself and see if the water warms to your preferred level. If the thermostat setting was not inadvertently adjusted then again it is best to call a heating repair service or plumber to replace it.
There are many other things that require winterizing including wrapping vulnerable water pipes and repairing or replacing deficient weather stripping around windows and doors. I will research some more information and pass it on shortly and would welcome suggestions and helpful ideas that you may have.
.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment