Water heater issues are one of those household headaches that always seem to hit at the worst possible moment. You could be having guests coming over, and suddenly there’s no hot water for dishes or laundry. You try fiddling with the thermostat, maybe even reset the unit in vain. Deep down, you know it’s time to call in a professional.
If you’re like most people, you just want someone reliable, fast, and who won’t charge you an arm and a leg. And more importantly, you want the job done right so you don’t have to deal with this again a few months down the road. That’s why finding the best water heater repair Utah professional is vital. A good technician will get your water heater running again and make it last longer. Here are 3 things a professional will to extend your system’s life.
1. Thoroughly Flush Out the Sediment Buildup
Over time, minerals from your water supply settle at the bottom of your tank. If you’ve got hard water (and in many parts of Utah, you absolutely do), that buildup happens even faster. Now, you might think, so what? But that layer of gunk acts like an insulation blanket over your burner, making your heater work way harder than it should. More strain means a shorter life.
A professional knows how to flush the system properly. They’ll hook up a drain hose, open the right valves, and let the tank empty out. And it’s not just a drain-and-go job—if they’re doing it right, they’ll agitate the tank a bit, maybe even use a descaling solution depending on how bad it is.
But the key here isn’t just flushing it once. A repair pro will also give you advice on how often you should do this based on your specific water conditions. Regular flushing—done right—can easily add several years to your water heater’s life.
2. Inspect and Replace the Anode Rod
If you’ve never heard of an anode rod, don’t worry, you’re definitely not alone. It’s a long metal rod inside your tank that’s designed to corrode so the rest of your tank doesn’t have to. It sacrifices itself to protect the steel walls of your heater. Pretty noble, right?
Once the rod is fully corroded (and that can happen in just a few years), there’s nothing left to stop the rust from eating your tank alive. That’s where a pro comes in. They know when to check it, how to remove it (without damaging the unit), and when it’s time for a replacement.
3. Calibrate the Thermostat and Pressure Relief Valve
You might assume your water heater’s thermostat is just set-and-forget. Set it to 120 or 130 degrees and you’re good to go, right? Well, kind of. Over time, the calibration can shift. What reads as 120 might be producing 140-degree water—and that’s a recipe for stress. Not only is it dangerous (hello, scalding water), but it puts extra pressure on your tank, pipes, and valves.
A professional will double-check the thermostat calibration and adjust it if needed. They’ll make sure it’s not just heating water, but heating it efficiently. This will reduce the workload on your system, and save it from failing sooner than it should.
The pressure relief valve is another part that often gets ignored. But if that valve isn’t working right, you’re sitting on a potential time bomb. OK, maybe not a bomb exactly, but the system could over-pressurize and cause leaks or burst pipes. A solid technician will test this valve, check for signs of wear or corrosion, and swap it out if there’s even a hint of failure.
Final Thoughts
A good water heater repair technician isn’t just someone who shows up, tinkers with your unit, and leaves you with a bill. They’re someone who understands how the system works, what it needs to stay in top shape, and how to make sure you’re not calling them back in six months for the same issue. Contact the right technician today and all your worries will fade.