Water Heater Preventive Maintenance Tips for Residents of Puerto Rico

Whether fueled by electricity, propane or solar energy, one of the modern conveniences many people in Puerto Rico take for granted is hot water in their home or business.  A simple turn of the tap provides for a warm shower, bath or hot water for washing dishes and clothes.
 
There are well over a million homes across Puerto Rico and hundreds of thousands of businesses and institutions that all have some form of water heater.  These water heaters typically have a lifespan of between 8 to 15 years, but this can vary dramatically. For many of people, as long as there is hot water at the tap, they don’t think much about water heater maintenance, preventive care or energy efficiency. However, water heaters do have a finite life and many older models consume large amounts of energy.  In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, water heating is the second largest energy use in homes, accounting for 17% of residential energy consumption.
 
To prolong the life of a water heater, sacrificial anodes are located in many models to help protect it from internal corrosion. Over time, these may need to be replaced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Many plumbing experts also recommend that hot water heaters are flushed once per year to help remove sediment or rust that may have built up over time.
 
Puerto Rico’s building science experts at Zimmetry Environmental provide the following tips that a water heater likely needs to be serviced or replaced soon.

• Rust is forming on the outside of the heater.
• There is leaking water below the heater.
• The burner units are rusty or clogged.
• Water takes longer to heat or doesn’t get as hot as it used to.
• The unit makes popping sounds when heating water.
• Hot water has a metallic taste or visible rust comes from the faucet.

 
“If a water heater fails and begins to leak, it could allow hundreds of gallons of water to saturate a home or business in a very short period of time,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “This moisture can cause extensive and costly repairs and quickly lead to indoor air quality issues caused by the growth of mold.  In fact, mold will begin to grow on most materials found indoors in 48 hours or less when wet.  Older properties could also face cleanup, repair and demolition hazards if lead-based paints and asbestos-containing materials were used in the property.”
 
People in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean faced with indoor environmental concerns due to water damage from a broken water heater or other source can turn to the experts at Zimmetry Environmental.  Their indoor air quality and building science professionals can identify hazards associated with mold, bacteria, sewage, asbestos, lead and other exposure risks. They also recently sponsored an educational video about water heaters, property damage and mold that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/gXkpCw09cw8
 
To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their water damage, indoor air quality, environmental, or compliance testing and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals, and Fortune 500 companies.  The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America.  The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs, and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail