Water Heater Service & Maintenance
Heat pump, electric and gas water heaters often get missed during annual maintenance inspections, but more so the heat pump water heater. As an energy efficient alternative to a straight 5500W electric tank, these systems still require the same basic maintenance as a ductless heat pump. A lot of these units were installed in dirty basements or installed under the guise of a dual-purpose dehumidifier that happens to make hot water. The heat pump will pull the necessary heat energy from the air using a small heat pump system, similarly, found in your fridge or freezer. A by-product of the refrigeration cycle is dehumidification, but let’s not get the water heater mixed up as a 98-pint dehumidifier system meant for a whole home.
Depending on the manufacturer design, the filter will be located on the top of the system either lying flat or inserted within a slot to catch debris before it can land on the coils. Keeping this filter clean will help reduce energy costs and prevent the compressor overheating or dying due to excessive temperatures within the refrigerant. There is a condensate pan at the bottom of the coils where water pulled from the air is flushed out of the system and down the drain either by gravity or to a pump. When the drain clogs from the growth, algae or otherwise, there is a sensor that will shut off the heat pump and only run the electric elements until resolved.
The inner stainless tank will overtime react with minerals in your water supply. City water is treated at a local plant to be suitable for most cases, whereas wells can have a myriad of potential issues. Anode rods protect the stainless tank from breaking down before its proper life cycle ends (typically the warranty period), but tanks installed in great quality water have been known to last as high as 18-20 years. Over time, the anode rod will sacrifice itself in the same way a zinc anode protects a boat hull from corrosion. When there’s excessive iron, maganese or arsenic in well water supplies, these rods will break down faster. Also minerals will settle at the bottom of the tank and build up over time, reducing the overall efficiency and capacity of the system.
Flushing the inner stainless tank periodically will prevent capacity loss and keep your system working efficiently through its life cycle.
High-efficiency combination boilers and wall-mounted water heaters, such as Rinnai tankless systems, heat water in different ways but still require periodic maintenance.