Plumber Tips
Cold Weather
- Insulate exposed pipes before cold weather begins
- Locate and know how to use the shut off valve to the house water supply so that in the event of a broken pipe the water can be turned off to prevent damage to the area surrounding the pipe
- Watch the weather for temperatures that drop below freezing for an extended period of time and allow for a pencil-thin line of water to run overnight from an indoor faucet (water should be a mix of cold and hot)
tank type water heaters
- At least once a year or more depending on water conditions, drain tank to remove sediment and inspect for signs of leakage
Tankless instant water heaters
- At least once a year or more depending on water conditions, flush with a descaling solution and inspect for proper installation and leakage
General Tips for Hot Water Heaters
- Long wait for hot water can easily be resolved with a short service call
- No/little hot water check electrical breaker or gas availability
- Possible reasons for no/little hot water can be undersized unit, thermostat is set too low, or incoming water is very cold
- Water heater sound can be caused by scale on elements or sediment in tank
- To change from tank water heater to tankless instant water heater must be evaluated on site to check for gas services required
- Setting the thermostat on 120°f will reduce the risk of burns (at 160°f, it takes ½ second to receive second and third degree burns)