There is hardly anyone in the USA who does not have a water heater at their home. This water heater is usually located in a utility room or down in a basement to keep the massive structure out of sight, thus making it extremely important to maintain the water heater properly and on a regular basis for safety reasons. The water heater safety and operation tips will come in handy when it concerns your family’s well-being.

Discover the following points that might even save your life!

1. First and foremost – your water heater’ installation. This is not one of the DIY projects that you can handle yourself. You need to make sure that you hire a professional, fully licensed and insured water heater specialist like the one from Orange County Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning. Our expert will deal with all of the different connections while installing your water heater, contributing to further successful operation of your hot water heater.

Your water heater parts to get acquainted with.

2. You need to be familiar with the basic water heater parts to be able to prevent some serious consequences in case of an emergency:

• A tube to allow cold water into the water heater tank
• A pipe to let hot water out of the water heater tank
• A thermostat that controls the inside water temperature of the tank
• Heating elements
• In case if you want to drain or move the tank, you better know where a drain valve is situated
• A pressure or temperature relief valve that protects the tank from exploding
• A sacrificial anode rod to ensure that the steel tank won’t corrode

Most residential tanks are able to contain 40 to 60 gallons of water and should hold the pressure of a residential water system, which usually runs at 50 to 100 pounds per square inch.

3. It is your responsibility to know how to turn your water heater off in an emergency situation. If there is a gas-fueled water heater at your home, find out where your manual gas shut-off valve is located in order to shut it off in case if your unit is prone to overheating, sets on fire, flooded or damaged in any way. If the major leak occurs, you must also be aware of the cold water supply shut-off valve location, so that you can shut it off while waiting on the emergency plumbers.

1. Consider installing a Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV). Your home depends on pressure from your municipal water supply. If that pressure is too high, your water heater will experience additional deterioration over time. If you want to control this pressure and provide a consistent flow for your own water supply, installing a PRV would be a great solution. However, it should fit your home in terms of size and construction. If you happen to have the mentioned problem, consult with one of our professional plumbers at Orange County Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning.
2. Protect your family from scalding water. Your water heater temperature should be set below 120° F. Temperatures over 125° F can cause scalding – a pretty serious issue, especially when it comes to your children.
3. The area around your hot water heater should be clean and free of flammable materials.
4. Set hot water heater temperature at its lowest mark when leaving your home for a long period of time.  Such a precaution will not only save you money on heating bills but will also reduce the risk of any potential problems when you are gone.
5. Regular professional maintenance is not less important than professional installation. If you desire your water heater to run at its optimum efficiency and be repaired before the irreversible consequences occur, consult our water heater experts for recommended maintenance schedule.

Orange County Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning is your one-stop location for all the water heater needs!