The Benefits of Regular Maintenance for Your Gas Water Heater

Everyone knows the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Well, that may not be the best advice when it comes to your gas water heater. Regularly maintaining your home systems and appliances, like water heaters, is a great way to save energy and prolong the life of your unit.

Save Energy

Heating water makes up for approximately 15% of a home’s energy usage. When a gas water heater is well maintained, it runs at its full capacity. This means it uses less energy, which will save you in the long run. In fact, a household with medium hot water usage can save upwards of $1,709 over your unit’s lifetime simply by having an efficient water heater.

Prevent Costly Repairs

Keeping your hot water heater in shape prevents breaks and failures that can result in a decrease in or loss of hot water supply. While having hot water is not technically a necessity, it sure feels like one to most. So, repairing a gas water heater is not something that can be put off while you save up for it. Repairs could be something like a drain valve replacement, which can cost up to $200, or a failed burner assembly, which runs around $500–$600. Scheduling and paying for an unexpected expensive repair is stressful, so it’s best to do all you can to prevent them.

Extend Lifetime

A typical water heater will last around 10–12 years, but with regular water heater inspection and maintenance, that number can be significantly increased.

Here are a few easy ways to take care of your gas water heater:

-          Lower the temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit

-          Insulate your pipes

-          Regularly clean the burner

-          Drain your water heater sediment once per year

-          Ensure your water heater tank is in the right position. Research regulations and tips for placement in your area.

You can also regularly test the pressure relief valve, check the natural gas connections, and ensure the pilot light is on to see if your gas water heater is running efficiently.

These simple tasks can increase your natural gas water heater’s lifespan by a few years, so make sure you do take care of them on a regular basis.

Home Warranty

Even if you take the best possible care of your gas water heater, it will eventually fail due to normal wear and tear. Stay protected against high repair costs with SCANA Home Warranty. With a Total Line+, Core, or Core+ Protection plan from SCANA Home Warranty, you won’t have to stress over things like failed thermostats or burners. You’ll be able to rest easy knowing our home warranty experts will find a reliable contractor to take care of any protected issue.

Water heater tanks tend to be hidden away in utility closets or garages, so it’s easy to forget about them until there’s a problem. Don’t wait until something’s wrong to perform water heater maintenance and save yourself time, money, and headaches down the line.

Visit our blog for more home maintenance tips and tricks.