Waking up on a chilly morning to a water heater that refuses to function optimally can be a harrowing and frustrating experience. When the mercury drops, the ability of your heater to heat water takes a hit. While it may seem paradoxical to you (after all, heaters are meant to be used the most during winter), winter makes life tough for your water heater. The question to ask here is what causes water heaters to fail during winter? To answer this question, we take a look at some common reasons why heaters work harder in the winter, and also the solutions to these problems.
1. Colder Water Than Usual
During winter, the water that enters the tank of your water heater is colder than usual, often making your water heater work harder. Though the heater tries its best to do its job, the output is not enough to heat the water uniformly.
2. Standing Heat Loss
Most families store their water heaters in a poorly-heated place such as their garage or basement. When mercury drops, cold air starts surrounding the heater. The air build-up around the heater results in rapid heat loss, forcing the heater to put in more efforts than usual.
3. Extensive Use
Most of us like taking longer hot showers during winter. When the water level in the heater is depleted at a higher-than-normal rate, the heater goes into overdrive mode to heat the water.
Tips to Prevent Heat Loss
1. Insulate your Tank and Pipes
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to prevent heat loss is insulating your water heater. To seal exit points for heat to escape, insulate the tank and pipes. Adding insulation helps avoid heat loss that occurs when the water travels from the tank to the tap.
2. Get your Tank Flushed
Over time, dust and dirt particles accumulate around the tank, dragging down its performance. Additionally, minerals in the water cause sediments to accumulate at the bottom of the tank, contributing to the problem.
3. Upgrade
Has your water heater outlived its service life? If yes, you should start looking for a replacement. Like every other equipment, water heaters are supposed to last for a certain period, beyond which they fail to work the way they should.
With an expert by your side, these solutions will never be out of your reach. Whether you need tips to get the most out of your water heater or are looking for water heater services in Santa Rosa, Holman Plumbing is your go-to team. To learn about our water heater services in Santa Rosa, call at 707-495-5002. Want our experts to answer your questions? Fill out our contact form.