If you’re a home-owner in Australia and you’ve got a compact storage hot water heater, you need to know what maintenance requirements come with it. After all, keeping your hot water heater in good working order is key to ensuring that you have a reliable source of hot water when you need it.
The first thing to do is to check the anode rod in your hot water heater on an annual basis. This rod is made from magnesium and its purpose is to protect the steel tank against corrosion. It will slowly corrode itself over time and eventually need replacing. Checking the rod once a year can help ensure that any problems are dealt with early on and prevent more costly repairs later down the line.
It’s also important to flush out your tank regularly. This involves draining some of the old water from your tank and replacing it with fresh water. This helps remove sediment build-up which can affect how efficiently your hot water heater works. Aim to flush out your tank at least twice a year, more if you have hard water in your area.
When flushing out your tank, it’s also a good idea to check the temperature-pressure relief valve at the same time. Over time this valve can become clogged with sediment or debris, which can prevent it from functioning properly and lead to bigger issues down the line – so make sure that it’s clean and working properly during each flush. You should also perform a visual inspection at this time for any signs of corrosion or other damage that may need attention.
Finally, you should make sure that all safety devices are functioning correctly for both gas and electric models of compact storage hot water heaters. In particular, check for proper ventilation around electric models – if there isn’t enough ventilation then this could be dangerous as well as impairing efficiency. Also ensure that all pipes are secured correctly as loose pipes can cause leaks or other damage over time (which could be very costly!).
By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your compact storage hot water heater continues running smoothly for years to come!