A water heater is an electrical appliance that heats the water in your household. Once you click on the "Start" button, it can take several hours for the hot water to start flowing because of the way the electric valves pump the cold water into your storage tank to heat -- or solar heat -- before sending it into your faucets.
An anode rod is a steel rod that runs through the centre of your water heater and acts to decrease corrosion in your tank. The magnesium part of the anode reacts with the acidic water in your heater and protects the steel casing from corroding.
If your heater is leaking, the magnesium will be gone and your tank may start to rust and erode through. If your water heater is leaking and you've verified that the leak isn't coming from any of the pipes leading into it or out of it, then there's a good chance that you need a new heater. Or better yet, have your water heater checked by a water heater repair Prairie Village, KS expert.
• If you live in an area with hard water (lots of minerals), then consider installing a water softener. This will help keep some minerals from building up on your interior parts, which can lead to corrosion and leaks.
• When you replace any part on your heater, make sure you turn off the power to it at your circuit breaker. If a leak happens while the heater is still powered on, then you'll get a big shock when trying to fix it.
• The best time to replace an anode rod is at the beginning of winter before your water heater has been in use for a long period of time and started to corrode and rust.
• If you've already replaced your anode rod, then let the water heater run for a few minutes so the new rod can coat the inside of your tank with magnesium before it starts to corrode again.
• If you want to add an extra layer of protection against leaks, add a sacrificial anode rod. This is another anode rod that corrodes your water tank, which prolongs the life of your heater.
• If your tank is leaking, stop using it until you have it replaced. Don't just keep adding water to it. The extra heat created by the constantly heated tank will soften the steel and lead to even more leaks.
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