As summer comes to an end and fall is beginning to settle-in for the season, have you considered a plumbing inspection? While this might be the last thing on your mind, fall is actually the perfect time to make sure your home and your hot water heater, specifically, are primed and ready for winter. The outdoor cold has a way of sneaking up, seeping in, and taking a toll on your pipes before you are even aware that it is happening.
Here’s the reality: No matter how warm and toasty your home is, the colder temperatures will affect your plumbing system – and particularly your hot water heater. Why, exactly? In a nutshell, your water heater is going to be working overtime due to the colder temperatures of the water supply that is flowing into your home.
To be clear, you also need to know that running out of hot water in the winter is only one problem you might face. Spiking energy bills, freezing and burst pipes, and leaks are also very real possibilities.
So what can you watch out for, and what can be done to keep your water lines and hot water heater working at-capacity? Green Group has a few recommendations:
- Insulate Your Pipes, Hot Water Heater
- Inspect for Leaks, Rust, & Water Damage
- Turn Up the Thermostat Temperature
- Contact Green Group
If you want to ensure your hot water heater is running at its best, call Green Group today for an inspection or for any hot water heater repairs and tune-ups you need before winter.
Insulate Your Pipes, Hot Water Heater
Depending on where you live, this recommendation may seem hypervigilant. But as outdoor temperatures drop, the colder water that is traveling into your home will affect not only your pipes but also your hot water heater. The cold water will take longer to heat than in the summer months, which can lead to cold showers as well as a damaged water heater. Cold water and a stalling water heater are one thing, but frozen pipes are a disaster you truly don’t want to deal with, and all it would take is a drastic temperature drop or a winter storm!
Insulating your pipes, including the water lines attached to your water heater, is one way to prevent this problem. Another way to outsmart winter is to protect your hot water heater if it is located in your garage or an area that can experience a draft. Aside from wrapping your hot water heater with an insulation blanket, insulating the walls around it also can pay off when outdoor temperatures drop to freezing.
Inspect for Leaks, Rust, & Water Damage
From loose valves and leaky pipes to unsightly rusting and sediment build up, these are plumbing and water heater issues you want to address sooner rather than later. While it is not uncommon for leaks to happen on occasion or for water heaters to experience some rust and sediment build-up over time, keeping an eye out for these early warning signs can make all the difference later.
In most cases, you will probably need no more than a simple repair or quick flush of the sediment accumulating in the bottom of the hot water heater. A plumbing technician’s primary job is to diagnose any potential problems you could be facing and recommend the best plan of action.
Even in a seemingly worst case scenario – such as needing to install a new water heater – at least you will know you won’t be taking any frigid baths or showers this winter!
Turn Up the Thermostat Temperature
Another straightforward solution is to turn up your hot water heater’s thermostat temperature. When the cooler outdoor temperatures begin to impact your home’s water temperature, adjusting your thermostat tells your water heater it’s time to buckle down for winter. Sounds easy enough, right?
Unfortunately, turning up the temperature on the thermostat of your water heater can lead to scalding water while showering or washing your hands, if you aren’t careful. Plus, gas and electric water heaters differ in how they are adjusted. If you know how to change the temperature on your home’s hot water heater, make sure you only bump up the temperature a little at a time and test it before using it. An even safer option is contacting a professional.
Contact Green Group
Our team of professionals at Green Group can take a quick look and know if your pipes are experiencing too much pressure, your water is too cold or too hot, or your connections are loose. Give us a call or contact us via our online form today! You’ll be glad you did.
