Is Your Water Heater Ready for Fall?

Although no one wants to think about it just yet, fall will be here before we know it. The beautiful, sunny days of summer always go way too fast, but you don’t have to be left unprepared if you take a little time to plan ahead. There’s nowhere that’s quite as important as with your heating and cooling systems in your home, including your water heater. 

During the summer months, water heaters get a little break from having to work so hard. Once the chill of fall and winter set in and the ground starts to freeze, though, the water coming into your home will get much colder. Therefore, your water heater will have to run a lot more to keep up with your hot water demands. 

Here’s how to make sure it’s ready for that. 

Check the Pressure Relief Valve 

Most water heaters have a pressure relief valve that is designed to prevent the heater from either breaking down or combusting due to extreme conditions. Some heaters might need this checked more frequently, but once or twice a year is usually sufficient. Simply find the valve, pull up on it gently, and see that hot water comes out of the discharge tube. If not, contact a professional for repair right away. 

Check and Adjust the Temperature 

A lot of people never touch or even look at the temperature gauge on their water heater. They assume it’s set accordingly and leave it at that. Others crank it up in the winter months and might forget to turn it down once summer comes, or vice versa. In any case, you’ll want to check the temperature of your water heater and adjust the setting if necessary. Make sure it’s hot enough to keep your tank filled with hot water, but not so hot that you’re wasting energy. 

Insulate Everything 

If you live somewhere really cold or you have your water heater in a garage or cold basement, you might want to add some extra insulation. You can buy a “blanket” for your water heater, along with pipe insulation to keep your water pipes protected from extreme temperatures. 

Call in the Pros 

Of course, the best way to make sure that your water heater is ready for fall is to call Elk Grove Village Sewer and Plumbing. They can come out and inspect your water heater, take care of anything it needs, and even advise you on ways to reduce your utility bills—it’s an investment well made and can extend the life of your water heater no matter what climate you live in.