The hot water cylinder is the core of your home central heating system. The hot water cylinder heats up your entire home and ensures everything is nice and toasty. A factor by which you should do everything in your power to extend the life span of your hot water tank.
Many people simply buy a hot water tank and then forget about it until it needs a replacement. Don’t be one of many, lead by example. Follow these top tips from our gas engineering experts today to prolong the life of your hot water cylinder.
Flush The Tank Annually
It is our recommendation to flush your hot water cylinder on an annual basis to prolong its life span. Why is this needed? Over time sediments build up in the base of the hot water tank. These mineral deposits can decrease the efficiency of your tank.
Draining the hot water tank through the drain valve at the bottom of the heater is necessary to clean out impurities in the water. Always remember though that you are dealing with very hot water so be careful!
To flush out a hot water cylinder follow these steps:
- Turn off the water tank’s heat source
- Switch the water valve to off
- Attach a hose to the water tank’s drain valve and run it to where you’ll drain the water
- Open a hot water faucet
- Open the water heater drain valve and allow water to flow for 5-10 minutes
- Close the valve and allow the tank to refill
Check the Anode Rod
Inside the hot water cylinder exists a long narrow bar called the Anode Rod. The rod is made up of either zinc, magnesium or aluminium, material that corrode over time.
The Anode Rod extends the life of your hot water cylinder by reducing the corroding of metal inside the tank. Without it the hot water tank would corrode rapidly from the inside. The Anode Rod eventually will dissolve so checking it’s ok regularly is essential.
The Pressure Relief Valve
Particularly important for mains cylinders, the pressure relief valve protects the hot water cylinder from excess pressures. You can generally find this located at the top or to the side of the cylinder.
It is recommended to release the valve every six months, remembering to raise and lower the lever very slowly. If the water does not flow when the valve is released it may be faulty or there is a problem with the system. In this case you should call a registered professional to have it checked.
Hot Water Cylinder Replacement
Sadly, hot water cylinders are not built to last forever. There will come a time when no matter how much maintenance you do you will need a replacement.
Gas Safe Engineering Ltd are fully registered and equipped to install a new hot water cylinder into your home. If you suspect there is something wrong with your water tank call us immediately on 01 969 5219. Our speedy and efficient team will be out to you in a jiffy.