Dear John Contest

A water heater is one of those things that are easy to forget about. They are usually tucked neatly away in an attic just working away in oblivion. You don’t really pay attention to them until suddenly you’re taking cold showers. And by then it’s probably too late to show it any love. So before your water heater suffers a premature death, get it on a regular maintenance schedule. It will work better, use less energy and last longer.

But what do you do to keep a water heater in shape?

For starters, make sure you have a service professional conduct a complete inspection at least once a year. ARS and Rescue Rooter offer annual service plans that include these types of inspections. Your service pro will drain your tank to remove any sediment, inspect the tank and connections for any rust, wear or corrosion, and check the pressure relief valve, among other things.

However, there are steps you can take during the year to keep your tank in tip-top shape.

One of those things is additional tank draining. In fact, you could stand to do that every three or four months. If when draining the tank, you see bits of metal or rust in the water, call ARS or Rescue Rooter immediately. That is a near certain sign that the anode rod needs to be replaced. Don’t worry though…the anode rod is designed to attract corrosive chemicals in the water and keep them away from the rest of the tank. It’s actually a pretty quick fix.

Of course, before you do anything make sure you turn off the power at your circuit breaker or shut off the gas. And if you are a little unsure about what you’re doing, call a pro - schedule an appointment with ARS - Rescue Rooter. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.