New water heaters can range in price from around $500 to thousands of dollars. And, of course, that’s not including the cost of having a professional install it for you. While this might not be the most expensive repair a homeowner will ever make on their property, it’s certainly a good idea to avoid it if possible. So, in addition to having a professional perform a full system flush every year or two, what can you do as a homeowner to keep your water heater working well?
One thing you might do is turn the temperature down a little bit. While you don’t want to go below 120 degrees, (or else microbes might grow in the tank!) the default temperature setting for most water heaters is higher than it needs to be. This causes the heater to run more frequently, and can overheat your system during maintenance. Additionally, you’ll want to test the temperature and pressure release valve regularly. Just lift the valve partway and let it snap back into place.
