Now that the summer season is coming to a close – many homeowners are taking the time to get their homes ready for the colder weather months.
There are many to-do items on the list for closing out the summer and getting prepared for the winter.
Many of those items include storing all of the summer water activities, beach towels, and camping gear.
However, proper maintenance for your plumbing system is also vital to protecting your home from disaster this winter.
One key piece of your plumbing system that should be protected is the water heater. The water heater is vital to the proper function of your plumbing system and you must make sure that it is working properly all year around.
Here are some of the ways that you can make sure that your water heater is ready for winter:
- If you haven’t had your water heater serviced this year – now is the perfect time to get that done. The tank is designed to work well for at least five years before it starts showing signs of wear and tear. However, with annual maintenance, you can protect the longevity of your water heater and ensure that you and your family have hot water all throughout the winter months.
- Consider purchasing an insulated blanket or water heater tank sleeve to buffer your tank from the cold weather. It might seem silly to think about putting a blanket around your water heater. However, the tank is vulnerable to the cold weather temperatures, which means that the water inside of the tank can cool faster that normal. If you wrap a blanket around it, then you can protect the water and ensure the energy-efficiency of the tank.
- Add a note on your calendar to visually inspect your water heater at least one time per month during the cold weather season. Most people never look at their water heater unless there is a problem with the hot water. However, it is always better to be proactive about plumbing problems and if you can spot a problem before it gets worse – then you can prevent a disaster
Use these simple tips to keep your water heater in top working condition this fall and winter. We are going into the time of year when your water heater is the least energy-efficient and most vulnerable to failure. Do everything that you can to make sure that none of this happens to your family.