Amidst the still raging COVID19 pandemic and the approaching fall/winter season, the last thing that you want to face is a malfunctioning hot water heater. By prepping now, you will ensure that your water heater is ready to make it past the end of the year. Keep reading to see four ways that you can get your water heater is ready for fall and winter:

• Check your valves: Your hot water heater has something called a temperature and pressure relief (or TPR for short) valve. If it is not opening and closing as it should this could lead to the hot water heater pressure building up in your tank and perhaps even causing an explosion. If you feel confident in doing this yourself the following steps are involved: (1) Open the valve by flipping the manual lever, (2) watch for an outpouring of water through the discharge pipe,(3) Close the valve by shutting the lever.
• Drain the tank and remove any sediment: More than likely, you will need a professional plumber to flush out sediment and mineral buildup in your water tank. It is important to remove this sediment because it can build up over time and impede the efficiency of your heater. If you wish to do this yourself you should cut off the water supply, attach a hose to your unit and proceed to drain the water into a bucket.
• Insulate your tank: To help your tank survive the rigors of cold weather and at the same time work more efficiently, you should consider insulating both your pipes and the tank itself. You can find insulating blankets at any hardware store plus the wrapping you will need to protect your pipes and valves as well.
• Inspect your anode rod: The anode rod is an integral part of your water heater because its job is to attract elements like calcium and other minerals which would otherwise stick to the insides of your tank. Make sure to inspect your anode rod before the beginning of every season to see if it should be replaced.

Hopefully, these tips will help your unit make it through the fall and winter ahead. However, if your unit is more than 10 years old then you will likely need a new gas water heater. If this is the case, our 100 gallon gas water heater for commercial use can meet the needs most businesses.