Follow This 1 Step to Prepare Your Water Heater for the Winter

The winter season is approaching slowly but surely, which means homeowners need to check in with their most important plumbing appliance: the water heater. You don’t want to be stuck showering in freezing cold water on an already freezing cold day because your water heater kicked the bucket at the most inopportune time. Brrr! We’re getting chills just thinking about it!

You just have to do one thing to prepare your water heater for the upcoming winter season: schedule an annual inspection and tune-up service with Aberle, your neighborly plumber. 

Water heater maintenance is important to ensure the efficiency, safety, and longevity of your appliance. Without regular upkeep, hard water minerals will build up in the water until they sink and settle at the bottom of the tank. This not only reduces the amount of space inside the tank, limiting your access to hot water but, most importantly, it affects the heating cycle. Waiting too long between maintenance services or outright ignoring them can cause irreparable damage to your water heater. You’ll find yourself wishing you had just picked up the phone to schedule an appointment when you’re shopping for a brand-new water heater installation in Houston and other nearby areas to replace the busted unit. 

Let’s highlight some of the benefits of professional water heater maintenance: 

• Improved Efficiency: Even small amounts of sediment buildup can make your water heater work harder than necessary. The only solution to this problem is flushing the tank — an important part of every service — to eliminate any debris found inside. This will help your water heater run smoothly, which leads to… 

• Greater Savings: An efficient appliance is a cost-effective appliance! Regular maintenance keeps your water heater working like it’s brand-new, so you can save money on costly repairs down the road. 

• Increased Lifespan: By eliminating small wear-and-tear as well as major damages, you can extend your water heater’s lifespan to 15 years or, in rare cases, even 20 years. 
• Decreased Likelihood of Unwanted Surprises: Some would argue that the most important benefit of all is avoiding unwanted surprises, like an impromptu cold shower!

During your annual inspection and tune-up, an Aberle plumber will flush the water heater to eliminate any debris sitting in the tank, check the anode rod for corrosion, and test the temperature-pressure relief (TPR) valve to make sure it’s functioning properly. 

There’s no better time than the present to schedule your water heater maintenance service…no, seriously! Fall is the best time because your water heater works even harder during the winter when the water supply is colder because of outdoor temperatures. Also, keep an eye out for these red flags that signal future trouble. 

Contact Aberle, one of Houston’s best water heater repair and maintenance teams, today!