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When it comes to your water heater the last thing you want to do is get stuck going about a lot of repairs, right? You definitely don’t want to spend all of your time and money getting someone to take care of the water heater yet again. Well, if you know what you’re doing and you know about your water heater itself, you may be able to avoid some of that water heater repair. You just need to have a good idea of your system in Chattanooga, TN.
The Parts of the Water Heater
Your water heater consists of a number of different parts that include the tank, dip tube, heat-out pipe, thermostat, heating mechanism, drain valve, pressure relief valve, anode rod and shut-off valve. Each of these are extremely important components and make sure that the water heater itself continues to run the way that it should.
Tank – This is where the water is actually stored and if you have a traditional water heater it stores about 40 to 60 gallons of water. The tank itself is usually metal and lined with something to protect it from the water itself.
Dip Tube – This is where the water comes into the water heater. It’s connected to the top of the tank and to the water line so that water can get in and then is pushed through the rest of the water heater until it comes out the bottom when it’s hot.
Heat-Out Pipe– This is inside of the water heater, but it’s closer to the top. In fact, this is how the hot water gets out of the heater itself. That probably makes sense, but it’s important that this pipe is able to allow water to be released.
Thermostat – Your water heater needs a working thermostat to make sure the water doesn’t get too hot or stay too cold. This is a common water heater repair because the thermostat can fail. But it monitors the temperature of the water including what it is and what it should be.
Heating Mechanism – Whether you have an electric or a gas water heater you’re going to have this part. For a gas water heater it’s a burner. For an electric one it’s going to be a different heating element. Electric heaters also keep these inside the tank instead of outside with a gas one.
Drain Valve – This is actually (finally) a piece that’s at the bottom of the tank. It’s in the exterior portion of the water heater and helps the tank to empty out. This is what your professional would use to clean out the water heater if needed.
Pressure Relief Valve – The pressure relief valve is actually a safety feature that makes sure your water heater doesn’t get too much pressure built up on the inside. This could be extremely dangerous for you and your family. That’s why you need to watch for water heater repair on this portion of the system.
Anode Rod – This is another piece that goes on the inside of the tank and it actually helps you to keep your water heater in better shape. It’s intended to remove a lot of the contaminants that can happen just by nature, keeping them from hurting the water heater itself.
Shut-off Valve – You absolutely need this safety feature which is going to allow you or a professional to turn off the system immediately if there’s ever any problems. You can just flip this valve and it will immediately stop water from flowing in. With a gas water heater there’s also one to turn off the pilot light.
Protecting Your Home
By having a better understanding of your water heater you can make sure that your entire family is much safer. This is also going to make sure that your water heater is working properly and you’re in need of less water heater repair. You won’t need to worry about fixing things if you know how to prevent some of the problems. Working with a professional on routine maintenance and water heater repair is going to be the first part of this process and will make sure you can keep everything running right.
You should also make sure that you are getting a quality water heater anytime you need to replace yours. Work with your local professional to find out more about different brands and different testing laboratories. They’ll be able to point you in the right direction toward a water heater that is going to work and keep your family safer. This could cut down on your need for water heater repair and it’s definitely going to be worth the hassle in the long run when you can trust your system.
Remember, if you smell gas at any time or if your carbon monoxide detector or smoke alarm go off near the water heater make sure you are calling 911 immediately. Also, once they’ve cleared your house and made sure the immediate danger is gone, call for a professional in water heater repair. You want to know what’s going on and why your water heater might be causing problems or causing any type of danger for your family. The best thing that you can do is call Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air of Chattanooga, TN.
Our team at Metro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Septic will get to your house for an emergency right away. And we’ll make sure that you don’t have to worry about anything going wrong with your water heater. We take care of all types of water heater repair and we also make sure that the entire plumbing system in your home is working right. If you have any problems with the heating, cooling, plumbing and more in your home, you can give our team a call. We’ll schedule you an appointment and a consultation to start taking care of anything that you need. Whether you’re looking for minor repairs or a major change to your household. Our team of water heater repair specialists can handle it.
