5 Tips to Help You Avoid Water Heater Clogs

What is a water heater?

A water heater is a device that heats water to provide hot water for use in buildings and homes.

Water heaters can be fitted with high-efficiency gas, electric, or other heating systems. They also come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The efficiency of a water heater depends on the type of heat source used and how it is used.

A hot water tank is typically found in homes and commercial buildings such as offices, restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals and nursing homes.

For residential applications, the tank may be located on top of the roof or outside the building itself, which will enable better insulation from cold weather or enveloping walls if inside the building. In commercial applications there will often be multiple tanks installed in proximity to each other as one tank can only supply hot water for a limited number of fixtures.

6 Common Causes of Clogged Water Heaters

Image credit: Flickr

The most common causes of clogged water heaters are sediment, mineral deposits, and scale. Here is a list of ways to effectively remove these causes of clogged water heaters.

1) Use a plunger to remove sediment or debris that is blocking the water-flow path.

2) Vinegar is known as an effective way to unclog white vinegar, followed by boiling vinegar in 50/50 mix with water and then pouring this mixture down the inside drain before rinsing it out with plain tap water.

3) Using a brush and long pipe cleaner can help dislodge mineral deposits from hard-to-reach areas near the bottom of the tank that are inaccessible for simply pouring vinegar into them.

4) A wire coat hanger can be used as a makeshift snake to dislodge scale from pipes on the outside of your unit. Alternately, you can use baking soda mixed with plain tap water on your pipes if they’re not too tight for the snake. 

5) If you have a garden hose to use, you can use it to flush rust out of the toilet and sink fixture.

6) You can use a plunger in the restroom to remove sediment buildup and clog debris, but you should be sure that the plunger is not too rough on your pipes.

How to Avoid Clogging Your Water Heaters With These 5 Tips

Whether it's a hot summer day or your water heater is in need of a repair, knowing how to avoid clogging your water heater can save you money on unnecessary repairs.

Here are five ways to avoid clogging up your water heater.

1) Keep the thermostat set at least 10 degrees below the set temperature of your water tank.

2) Don't put anything down the drain that might be too heavy or bulky to flush down the toilet.

3) Avoid using harsh chemicals like laundry detergent or drain cleaners in the sewer line.

4) Keep frisky pets out of the basement and stay away from hosing off driveways and sidewalks as they can cause pipe blockages as well. 

5) Clean out any build-up near where hot water enters and exits pipes and replace any corroded copper tubing.

5 Things You Should Do Before You Call the Plumbers for a Water Heater Fix

Before you call the plumber for a water heater fix, make sure that you have done these 5 things first:

1. Check if your water heater needs to be replaced

2. Test your water heater periodically if it was installed properly

3. Have an efficient air vent to take in new air

4. Know the type of fuel you are using and purchase large enough tank for long term use

5. If you are burning a liquid fuel, purchase a condensing oil burner.

How to Prevent the Next Troubleshooting Call from Your Customers or Business Owners

Business owners and customers have to deal with the fact that the next time they call to get help from their service providers, they may not receive a quick response. Troubleshooting calls are costly by nature.

Some of the steps that can be employed to protect businesses and customers against future troubleshooting calls include:

1) Involve all stakeholders in planning for customer service or repairs. This makes it easier for everyone involved to see that there is a need for preventive measures if a major event happens.

2) Involve all stakeholders in problem-solving when service or repairs are needed. This allows the organization to gather information and act on it quickly, while increasing the chance of a successful resolution.

3) Develop and periodically assess customer loyalty programs. Loyalty programs can be used to reward customers for positive behaviors such as giving feedback, referring friends or after meeting a certain number of goals.