Water Heater Maintenance and Drain Cleaning

Tankless water heater against light green tile, Water Heater Maintenance & Drain Cleaning | Sutton Brothers

Most North Carolina homeowners expect hot water to be available whenever they want it. Whether for a hot morning shower, a warm and sudsy kitchen sink, or for your whitest whites in the laundry room, you probably just expect your water heater to do its job. Fortunately, a water heater is one appliance that works 24/7 with very little worry and maintenance. 

Our professionals at Sutton Brothers want to provide just a few tips to help keep that water heater working as well as your drains running clean year-round. For a small investment in time, you’ll reduce or eliminate the stress of a broken water heater or a clogged drain.

Standard Tank Water Heater

The majority of Kernersville homeowners own the conventional storage tank water heater, which is essentially an insulated tank that holds heated water. Usually natural gas or electricity is used to heat the water, and the tank has both a pressure- and temperature-relief valve for safety purposes. While natural gas water heaters are a little more expensive to purchase, they are usually less expensive to operate when compared with electric water heaters.

Once a year, check your relief valve by opening it to see if it drains water. If it is not operating correctly, replace the valve to prevent too much pressure from building up inside the tank.

In addition, you want to drain about two to three gallons of water from the bottom of your tank to remove any sediment that has settled over the year. Drain the water until it runs clear once a year, and you’ll increase the efficiency and lifespan of your tank water heater.

You may want to engage one of our plumbing professionals to clean and descale your water heater tank on an annual basis, especially if you have hard water.

Tankless Water Heater

Some homeowners may have a more energy-efficient tankless water heater that uses coils to heat water only when it is needed. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, tankless water heaters can be 24 percent to 34 percent more energy efficient than traditional tank water heaters.

Although tankless water heaters do not have tanks to clean, it’s important to consult your model’s manual to understand necessary maintenance requirements. It can be a good decision to have one of our trained experts check, clean, and descale your equipment at least once a year. If you have especially hard water, you may need this professional maintenance twice a year.

Other Options

Although less popular, several other water heater options are available as well. Heat-pump hybrid water heaters operate similar to a regular heat-pump, heating water by taking heat from the surrounding air. Solar water heaters uses a solar cell to pull sunlight and use it to heat water, and a condensing water heater uses waste heat from exhaust fumes that typically go out the flue.

Each of these systems have unique maintenance needs, and it’s important to consult equipment manuals and work with our professional plumbers to keep these water heaters running dependably throughout the year.

Drain Cleaning Maintenance

Keeping your drains running clear can be as simple as flushing frequently used drains with boiling water or with a homemade solution of vinegar and baking soda. Although you might need to call us in to clear a very slow or clogged drain, the best thing you can do as a homeowner is to prevent clogs from occurring in the first place.

Avoid putting grease and oils in your drains, and be sure to only use toilet paper in the bathrooms. Keep your septic system well maintained and regularly pumped out, and attend to any plumbing problems immediately to prevent longer term damage.

We Are Available to Help Maintain Your Plumbing

Contact our trained plumbers at Sutton Brothers in Kernersville, NC, to learn more about water heater maintenance or drain cleaning services. Call at 336-390-3902 or contact us online.

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