How to Protect Your Water Heater During Cold Weather

Freezing temperatures can be hard on your water heater, leaving you with higher costs, bigger hassle, and less hot water. And since there’s nothing worse than being forced to take an icy shower in the middle of the winter or getting chilly fingers attempting to wash the dishes in cold water, it’s important to take preventative measures to keep your water heater running smoothly.

These practical water heater maintenance tips will help you protect your system from damage, maintain peak efficiency, and make sure you have plenty of hot water during the cold winter months ahead.

How Does Cold Weather Affect My Water Heater?

Winter brings colder water into your home, forcing your water heater to work overtime. This is especially true if your tank and pipes are in unheated spaces like garages, basements, or closets. The result? Your system uses more energy and faces more strain, leading to higher utility bills and increased wear on your equipment.

The constant expansion and contraction of metal components during heating cycles can cause cracks and leaks. When this happens, your system wastes both water and energy trying to maintain hot water levels, all while damaged components continue to deteriorate.

The good news is that with some preventive maintenance and care, you can protect your water heater from winter’s harsh demands and ensure reliable hot water when you need it most.

Essential Water Heater Maintenance For Winter

These basic water heater maintenance tips will help you protect your system and keep it in good repair during colder months.

Insulate Your Water Heater and Pipes

Keeping your tank and pipes warm is a simple, effective way to reduce heat loss and the amount of strain on your water heater. Use an insulating blanket to wrap up your tank and use foam sleeves or fiberglass pipe covers to prevent freezing, bursts, and heat loss in your pipes. Focus on covering pipes in unheated areas like basements or garages.

Maintain a Consistent Temperature Setting

To preserve water heater parts and ensure reliable hot water and your family’s safety, maintain a consistent temperature setting. Water heaters are generally set to the maximum safe temperature when installed. Increasing the temperature above this can result in unnecessary wear on your system and scalding, so it’s important to leave it in the recommended setting.

Flush and Drain Your Water Heater Regularly

Sediment buildup in your tank can further decrease your heater’s efficiency, making it even harder to warm up water in the cold months. Flushing the tank regularly (about every 6 months to a year) prevents this buildup and extends your system’s life. If you’ll be away from home for a long trip, it may also be a good idea to drain your tank before you go to prevent freezing and cracks.

Be Proactive with Emergency Preparation

Leaky tanks or burst pipes from a cold snap are never fun, so do your future self a favor. At the beginning of winter, schedule a professional water heater maintenance check to make sure everything is working properly and ready for the cold weather ahead.

Keep your service company’s contact info handy so you can get a hold of them ASAP in case you experience unexpected problems or damage.

Beat the Freeze with Bell Cow

At Bell Cow, our water heater maintenance experts are here to make sure you have warm water all winter long. From routine maintenance to emergency repairs, our team delivers expert solutions with unmatched skill and reliability. So don’t risk a frozen water heater or a chilly winter. Just call Bell Cow.