Your water heater is one of your household appliances. The common home water heater is the most neglected appliance in your home until it stops making hot water. The water heater provides a continual supply of hot water. Water heating is a heat transfer process that uses an energy source to heat water above its initial temperature. Typical domestic uses of hot water include cooking, cleaning, and bathing. Depending on what region of the country you live in the appliance can be called a boiler, hot water tank, heat exchanger or plain old water heater.
Fossil fuels such as natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas-propane, oil or solid fuels are commonly used for heating water. Water heaters can also run from an electrical source. In household and commercial usage, most North American water heaters are the tank type. Typical sizes for household use are 20 gallons, 30 gallons, 40 gallons,50 gallons, 75 gallons and 100 gallons.
You can keep your water heater running efficiently and reliably with some routine maintenance done by a professional. The temperature pressure relief valve should be tested annually. The anode rod should be examined every three years. Drain about a quarter of the tank annually to remove sediment and debris. If you have an older water heater, you should insulate it with a fiberglass jacket to improve efficiency. Have the thermostat adjusted to 120*. You will save up to 5% on energy costs and reduce the risk of scalding. De Hart Plumbing Heating and Cooling, serving Manhattan Kansas, Junction City Kansas, Wamego Kansas, Topeka Kansas and some surrounding areas. 
