A water heater is important for your home, especially during the colder months. Water heaters frequently break down if not taken care of properly. Mr. Rooter has home maintenance tips that will help keep your water heater running efficiently for a long time.

Check your water heater temperature setting to ensure your water heater is running at the proper temperature. Whether you have a gas or electric water heater, there will be a knob on the gas valve or thermostat of the water heater. Dial the temperature down to between 115 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit to reach an ideal temperature. This setting will protect the tank from overheating and reduce the energy used when heating water.

The temperature and pressure relief valve is critical to safety and the operation of your water heater. To check it, simply partially lift up the lever, then let it go, allowing to rapidly snap back to place. You should hear a gurgling sound as the valve allows water to be released into the drain tube. If nothing happens, the valve must be replaced.

Sediments should also be removed from the bottom of the water heater tank to prevent rust and corrosion. You should flush out your water heater to get these bits out of the tank. Place a bucket under the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. If the drain valve is lower than the top of the bucket, you may have to attach a short water hose. Open the drain valve and release the water. You just want to do a mini-flush to get the sediments settled on the bottom. For a full flush, you should call your local courteous plumber.

If you run into any questions, feel free to call your courteous local plumber. Thanks for watching and be sure to check out some of our other informative how-to videos!