The holidays are a wonderful, but very busy, time of year. The last thing you want is for your water heater to disrupt the festivities. By following a few basic tips, you can ensure that you have plenty of hot water for everyone and every task.
When You’re Hosting Holiday Gatherings
If everyone is coming to your house for the holidays this year, you’ll be using a lot more hot water than you normally do. Guests will be taking showers, and you’ll be washing a lot more dishes. You can give your hot water a boost by temporarily turning up the temperature setting on your tank water heater.
Keep in mind that increasing the temperature of your hot water increases the chance of scalding. Be careful and warn guests, especially those with children. A temperature setting of 120°F will provide a nice balance of safety and effectiveness.
Insulating your tank and pipes will also help. By reducing heat loss from the tank, you’ll conserve energy. Insulate exposed hot water pipes too, especially if they’re in an unheated area. This keeps the water hot as it travels to the faucet.
Schedule a water heater tune-up before the holiday season gets started. Your water heater specialist can flush the tank to remove sediment. Sediment can create a drop in water pressure. By getting rid of sediment, the water heater will run efficiently as your hot water demand increases. The plumber can also address any potential issues they find, which helps you avoid unexpected water heater failures.
When Traveling for the Holidays
If your water heater has a vacation mode, take advantage of it when traveling over the holidays. It drops the water’s temperature to 50 to 60°F. If you have a gas model, the pilot light will stay on. If your water heater doesn’t have this feature, you can manually turn the temperature setting down. Simply turn the control to pilot if you have a gas model. You can also shut off the main water valve to avoid leaks or burst pipes. As a result, you’ll rest assured knowing that there won’t be any major problems awaiting your return home. All you’ll need to do is turn the temperature control back to your normal setting once you’re back.
Don’t risk the embarrassment of running out of hot water for your guests, and protect yourself from water heater problems if you’re away. Get ready for the upcoming holiday season by calling Turbo Plumbing & Rooter today to schedule water heater service in Granada Hills, CA.