Fall Safety Tip You Might Be Overlooking
Fall weather brings about a mindset shift here in Chicago and the suburbs. Two of them focus on keeping warm and spending more time indoors. After any time spent outdoors in the cold a hot shower feels great. But you’ve gotta ask yourself, do you feel lucky punk? Well, do ya?
Everyone knows that you should flush your water heater yearly in the spring and the fall. It allows sediment to be removed from the tank that can corrode the tank or keep the electronics from working. Ultimately, the bottom of the tank can rust and begin to leak. And the electronics that keep the pilot lit and heat the water that feels so good in the winter can get corroded and stop working. Have you flushed your water heater yet this year? Have you?
When your plumber comes out to flush your tank, you should also ask him to test the gas inlet pipes for any leaks. The water heater is important but so is the supply line that keeps it fed. If your water heater gas lines were installed with Teflon tape, over time, the thinner tape will degrade on the gas line and vapors will leak from the fitting. It’s best to use a pipe-joint compound to lubricate and seal metal pipe and fittings to form leak-proof joints.
So, this year, don’t take a gamble with your water heater. Have it serviced 2x a year by a plumber that can also test the gas lines for leaks.
