Ben Franklin Denver recommends annual maintenance to extend the lifetime of your home water heater 3X Longer

Online, February 10, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Denver, Colo. - Too often the only time homeowners pay attention to their home water heater is during a pre-sale inspection or later when the hot water stops. But the good news is that you can triple the lifetime of your home water heater with regular maintenance by Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver.

Considering that most water heaters last an average of 7 to 12 years, the ability to extend that run to 35 years is a big money saver, says Steve Jusseaume, master plumber and owner of Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver (www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com). Besides saving money on replacement, there's also a savings in energy costs when a well-kept water heater is running efficiently.

Home water heaters fail for a number of reasons - the major one being age, says Keith Sears, master plumber with Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver. Draining and flushing out the water heater plus changing the anode rod should be done annually to keep a water heater running optimally. Only $229 to drain and flush the water heater is a small price to pay compared to the cost of installing a new water heater.

The anode rod is designed to protect against corrosion inside the water heater tank by attracting the corrosion to itself rather than allowing the corrosion to adhere to the glass-lined steel tank. It's sometimes called a sacrificial anode, because it dissolves slowly, sacrificing itself to protect the metal tank. As the anode rod is depleted over time, the water heater starts to produce rust-color water - one symptom that your water heater is in trouble.

It's time to call Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver, the On-Time plumber with the promise to show up at the scheduled appointment time or the plumber pays the customer for the delay.

Other symptoms that sediment is building up inside your water heater include:
• Heating element burns out
• Energy use can increase
• Unit overheats
• Aggravating noise begins
• Annoying vibration begins
• Bacteria begins to grow
• Unit emits an unpleasant odor.

All of these issues can be prevented with annual flushing and changing out the anode rod, extending the life of your water heater up to 35 remarkable years.

"It's like a car. If you never change the brakes, sooner or later you're changing the rotors," says Sears. "And just like regular oil changes and scheduled tune-ups can keep your car running for years longer than average, annual maintenance of your home water heater will do the same."

Visit Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver at www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com. Or call 303-340-3400 to schedule a guaranteed appointment throughout Metro Denver.