Your water heater is the faithful friend which gives you the warm showers or baths you enjoy after a long day, along with helping to wash your dishes and clothes. When was the last time you showed it some love?
Depending upon your water quality, water heaters tend to be fairly reliable, quiet servants. However, like anything mechanical, they require some attention. Most importantly, water is corrosive to the water heater lining and provides a constant source of sediments to fill up the bottom. The detrimental effects of water will vary by location, and even by house. Some houses will experience more sediment than others, and even the temperature setting will effect the life of the water heater.
Several things you can do to help your water heater are: 1) maintain a moderate temperature setting so as to maintain adequate hot water supply, but not hot enough to scald skin (most people can comfortably use the lower temperature settings on a well-functioning water heater); 2) drain some water out of the bottom once or twice a year to help remove sediment, which might accumulate; 3) periodically replace the anode rod which helps to minimize internal corrosion. (See anode rod pictures on the main "Services" page.) There are many good resources online to help you with these suggestions; however, if you need some help familiarizing yourself with your water heater operation, please feel free to give me a call.
Remember, even your water heater needs a little love from time to time... just like the rest of us.