The Fall Water Heater Checklist for DMV Homes

1. Look at the floor before you look at the heater

Dry, chalky mineral streaks on the tank or a rust ring at the base are the earliest honest signals. Anything damp under a tank deserves a professional look now, not in January.

2. Confirm the temperature setting

Many households run hotter than they need. If you have young children or older adults in the home, verify the setting and consider whether a mixing valve makes more sense than a hot tank.

3. Test the shutoff you'd actually use

Find the cold-water shutoff above the heater and the main house shutoff. Make sure both turn. A valve you discover is seized during an emergency is a much bigger problem.

4. Clear the space around the unit

Combustion appliances need air and access. Storage boxes stacked against a gas water heater are both a service problem and a safety problem.

• Keep flammables and aerosols well away from any gas appliance
• Leave clear working access to the front and top of the unit
• Keep the area around a heat pump water heater open for airflow

5. Note the age

Find the serial number on the rating plate and learn the manufacture date. Age changes every other decision you make about the unit.

6. Schedule maintenance before the rush

Cold weeks book fast. A flush and inspection scheduled in October is a routine visit; the same problem in January is an urgent one.