Within every home the furnace and water heater are the most used appliances that put a strain on the utilities. Because of the colder winters and the need to provide hot water throughout the house these two pieces of standard equipment are constantly being run. Even with the air conditioning being turned on in the summer, the water heater never takes a break or rests from its appointed duty to provide hot water for showers, washing the dishes, and other regular uses. Because the appliance is the single most used item in the house it is important to keep it properly serviced and well maintained.
By remembering to periodically drain the water heater, Chicago homeowners can extend the life of their equipment and make sure that it is running efficiently. By allowing the tank to empty completely twice a year in the spring and fall the water heater can release any deposits from hard water and instead of working harder to heat up the liquid and mineral deposits inside the tank, the water alone can be warmed and the efficiency of the unit increased.
Another tip for saving energy and extending the life of the vital piece of equipment is to set the temperature on the outside of the unit to a comfortable 120 degrees. While many manufacturers set the thermostat to 150 or 160 degrees the scolding water can be too hot and needs to be mixed with cold water, however by setting the temperature to a lower maximum, the utilities needed to power the system can be lessened and the efficiency of the heater increased to save money.
John Baethke & Son Plumbing Inc (http://www.baethkeplumbing.com/) is one of the top water heater Chicago contractors.
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