Where is my water heater?
Your water heater is usually found in the basement of your Vernon CT home. If you do not have a basement, it could be located in a utility closet. It is about 5 feet high and shaped like a cylinder. If it stands alone, you have a "traditional" water heater. If it's attached to your boiler, you have an "indirect" water heater. There are also wall-hung units, but this blog will focus on the traditional water heaters. They can be electric, oil, propane or natural gas. It is helpful to know what powers your water heater when you have to call a local plumber for service.
What does it do?
A water heater warms up the domestic water in your home. Domestic water means the water you drink and bathe in, not the water in your heating system. It is pretty low-maintenance and most people forget all about it until there's a problem. While there are no filters to change, it does need to be inspected about every 3 years. If you have poor water quality, the unit should be inspected more frequently. This is the manufacturer's recommendation. Having regular inspections protects your warranty and the water heater will last a lot longer. Most water heaters last about 10-12 years, if they are properly maintained.
What is included in a water heater inspection?
First, your local Vernon CT plumber will turn the unit off. He will drain it a little and remove the anode rod. The anode rod is what protects your heater from corrosion. The minerals in the water will eat away at the rod, instead of the water heater. For this reason, this rod is also called a "sacrificial anode rod." If the rod shows a lot of wear, it will be replaced. If a rod is not replaced on a regular basis, your water heater will leak from corrosion. A leak could cause major flood damage, which is an additional major expense that can be easily avoided with regular inspections.
Your local Vernon CT plumber
Rapid Service LLC is your local water heater specialist. We have been providing professional plumbing service to Vernon CT and its surrounding towns for 30 years. We are locally owned and operated. You can also enjoy prompt emergency plumbing repairs. To schedule your water heater inspection, please call 860-228-1036. One of our friendly, helpful customer service representatives will be happy to help! 
