Safety Tips to Handle Your Water Heater

We’ve talked about common fixes when it comes to water heater maintenance, and why you need to take certain steps to keep the appliance both functional and long lasting. Well, proper water heater upkeep also means taking safety into account! These appliances continuously run on high temperatures and pressure, and they rely on measures from homeowners to maintain their safe condition. From the team at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of Northwest Houston, here are tips on how to safely handle your water heater.

The water heater’s pressure relief valve (sometimes called their temperature valve) needs to be tested annually to make sure it’s in working order. These valves are put in place as a mechanism to prevent the tank from exploding, which would be catastrophic. Fortunately, testing these valves is easy. The proper way to test the pressure relief valve involves two steps. First, notice if the water is able to start and stop when you pull up on the handle. If nothing drips when you let go, your pressure relief valve is in good shape. If it drips, you should call for water heater maintenance to have it replaced. The second way to make sure the pressure relief valve is safe is to flush it out with hot water. This will remove any sediment that has gathered at the bottom of your tank. Just be careful while you’re near the drain valve. A drain line connected to the valve will help prevent a burn if it opens up unexpectedly near you.

For both safety and energy costs, never raise the temperature of your water heater above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s the perfect temperature to be comfortable and kill germs without causing burns to children, whose skin is thinner and more susceptible to burning than adults. If you leave town for a period of time, turn your water heater to the lowest setting so it doesn’t waste energy or endanger the home while you’re not there. If your water heater runs on gas, you need to make sure there is a reliable means of ventilation from where it’s stored. In the event of a carbon monoxide leak, the gas won’t become trapped inside of the property and will simply dissipate outside.

At bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of Northwest Houston, our team’s top priority is you and your family. Water heater safety is important, and we hope you take these measures seriously. Our team is available 24/7 for expert water heater installation, maintenance, and repair. Give us a call at 346-222-5262!