Brian Chesser, CPI - Metro Atlanta and North Georgia

Yearly Water Heater Maintenance

This is a simple maintenance plan to maintain your hot water heater and to increase is life and its efficiency.

Most people do not know that in order to keep your water heater running properly and efficiently a very simple maintenance procedures need to be performed. Every unit comes with instructions on this maintenance, but is often overlooked.

The reason for this maintenance is as water is pumped into your water heater tank over time dirt, sediment and various minerals will settle on the bottom of the tank. Depending on the water quality in your area these can add up over a year making your water heater less efficiency and cost you money in the long run. If left unchecked they can not only make your water heater work harder and store less water.

What you will need is:

•1. A garden hose that is long enough to reach a spot outside that is lower than the water heater.

•2. Gloves for safety (optional)

•3. A flat head screw driver

•4. An old towel

Safety Note: Be careful! You are going to be dealing with gas/electricity, very hot water and steam.

How to perform a yearly draining of your hot water heater, to keep it running smoothly.

1. Locate Water Heater

It will be in most cases located in your garage. If not it will be in a utility closet, basement or attic. In a few cases it maybe found in a crawl space.

2. Determine if Power Source

You can and should read any warnings and labels on the side of the water heater.

A simple way is to look for a Flue on top of the water heater. It will be a metal chimney running from the top of the water heater up toward the roof. If you see a flue and you see a Temperature Control Box/Pilot Light switch near the base of the water heater you have a gas power source.

An electric power source will have a electric supply entering (in most cases) the water heater at the top. It will also have one or two thermostats on the side of the water heater. The thermostats will appears as small bump outs plates on the side of the unit.

3. Locate Water Shut Off Valve, Pressure Release Valve, & Water Drain

The cold water shut off valve is located on the top of the water heater on the water line running into the water heater. It typically is a wheel water valve, but may also look like a lever.

The temperature pressure release valve (TPR) is located on the top or side near the top of the unit. It should be labeled. This valve will have overflow piping running down the side of the unit to the floor or out the wall to the outside. Note: The TPR valve lever should not be moved or tested.

The water drain valve is located at the base of the water heater. It will be a wheel valve, a lever or will need a flat head screw driver to open the valve.

4. Turn Off Heating Source

If the water heater is gas, turn the temperature control box to the "OFF" position and then turn the gas supply valve to the "OFF" position

If it is electric be sure to shut off the circuit breaker .

5. Turn Off Water & Attach Garden Hose

Turn off the cold water to the water heater and attach the hose to the water drain. Ensure the garden hose reaches outside and the water drains away from the home. The old towel can be used at this end of the garden hose to collect any sediment from the water heater.

6. Turn On Water Drain

Inside your house, open up the hot-water faucets in one of your sinks or tubs nearest the water heater. This will prevent a vacuum from forming in the lines and in the tank.

Turn on the water drain to release the water from the water heater tank and wait for all the water to drain from the tank.

7. Turn On the Water to flush the rest of the sediment out.

Turn on the cold water supply to flush any remaining sediment to be flushed out. Run for about two minutes, check the water draining out and make sure it is clear, then turn off the cold supply.

Turn off the water drain. If the water drain will not close you may have sediment blocking the valve. If so, turn the cold water supply back on only until you hear a small amount of water entering the tank and then close the water drain.

8. Refilling the Tank

Make sure the water drain at the base of the tank is turned off. Turn on the cold water supply to allow the tank to be filled. Once the tank is full you can turn the gas (Read the Instruction on the side of the water heater) or circuit breaker back on. Caution: Do not turn the heating unit on until the tank is full. If the tank is not full it can cause heating damage to the unit.

A Rhode Island school superintendent from Central Falls was trying to fix an extremely bad and failing school in her district. Central Falls High is at the bottom of the state heap when it comes to graduation rates and test scores.

School Superintendent Frances Gallo's Plan called for teachers at a local high school to work 25 minutes longer per day, eat lunch with students once in a while, help with tutoring, submit to more rigorous evaluations, attend weekly after-school planning sessions with fellow teachers and participate in two weeks of training during the summer break.

The teachers' union has refused to accept these new rules.

The teachers at the high school make $70,000-$78,000, as compared to a median income in the town of $22,000. This exemplifies a nationwide trend in which government workers make far more than their private-sector counterparts and with better benefits.

After the union said "No" to the school superintendents new plan she responded to the union's stubbornness by firing about 100 teachers, administrators and staff members at the school.

"I am saddened and shaken at the core by the enormous ramifications of my responsibilities," Gallo said. "The only solace I have is that I know I provided every opportunity possible, in fully public and transparent ways, the means to avoid this."

Way to go Ms. Gallo!

One of the greatest threats to our country is teacher unions.

Here is a Great and easy way to show the Federal Government you are sick and tired of the out of control taxes and spending.

It does not matter if you support the Fairtax, a Flat Tax or simple want to cut down our 80,000+ page tax code.

Join the Online Tax Revolt that is open to every American who believes our Federal Government is harmful to our country and a threat to our nation's future. Join other Americans as we march online from across the country to Washington, DC and rally together on April 15!

JOIN THE MARCH and pass it!

No, not Barack Hussein Obama II who was born August 4, 1961. I am talking about the greatest President of our time Ronald Wilson Reagan February 6, 1911.

The 6th would have been Ronald Reagan's 99th birthday. It has been 21 years since the end of our 40th President's second term.

Ronald Reagan revitalized the US economy during one of the most serious financial crises since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

I enlisted in the US Army in August of 1980 and saw first hand what he did to bring the military back from its lowest point of readiness after its neglect in the late 70's under Jimmy Carter.

The more I read about him, the greater an appreciation I have for this Great American. During the last campiagn season (2008 - 2009) Reagan was the President whose name was most mentioned in debates by both parties, as the example of an effective leader. Poll after poll the American people pick Ronald Reagan has the President they must admire.

He believed in lower taxes, less government, and a strong military. International, his leadership rebuilt and restored the position of the United States and took the courageous actions that ultimately led to the end of the Cold War, with freedom winning the fight.

He inspired and encouraged the American people through simple speeches and a strong leadership style.

In February we celebrate the birthdays of two other Great American Presidents: Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809) and George Washington (February 22, 1732).

Remembering these three men can only give us hope.

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
Ronald Reagan

Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
Ronald Reagan

Holiday Home Safety Tips

from InterNACHI

The winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and an increased risk of fire and accidents. InterNACHI recommends that you follow these guidelines to help make your holiday season safer and more enjoyable.

Holiday Lighting

• Use caution with holiday decorations and, whenever possible, choose those made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant and non-combustible materials.
• Keep candles away from decorations and other combustible materials, and do not use candles to decorate Christmas trees.
• Carefully inspect new and previously used light strings, and replace damaged items before plugging lights in. If you have any questions about electrical safety, ask an InterNACHI inspector during your next scheduled inspection. Do not overload extension cords.
• Don't mount lights in any way that can damage the cord's wire insulation. To hold lights in place, string them through hooks or insulated staples--don't use nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove them.
• Keep children and pets away from light strings and electrical decorations.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
• Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.
• Make sure all the bulbs work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
• Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground-fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks.
• Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

Decorations

• Use only non-combustible and flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel and artificial icicles of plastic and non-leaded metals.
• Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
• In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp and breakable, and keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children.
• Avoid trimmings that resemble candy and food that may tempt a young child to put them in his mouth.

Holiday Entertaining

• Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. When cooking for holiday visitors, remember to keep an eye on the range.
• Provide plenty of large, deep ashtrays, and check them frequently. Cigarette butts can smolder in the trash and cause a fire, so completely douse cigarette butts with water before discarding.
• Keep matches and lighters up high, out of sight and reach of children (preferably in a locked cabinet).
• Test your smoke alarms, and let guests know what your fire escape plan is.

Trees

• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "fire-resistant."
• When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches, and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break.
• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators and portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
• Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
• Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly.
• Make sure the base is steady so the tree won't tip over easily.

Fireplaces

• Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that the flue is open.
• Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten.
• Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

Toys and Ornaments

• Purchase appropriate toys for the appropriate age. Some toys designed for older children might be dangerous for younger children.
• Electric toys should be UL/FM approved.
• Toys with sharp points, sharp edges, strings, cords, and parts small enough to be swallowed should not be given to small children.
• Place older ornaments and decorations that might be painted with lead paint out of the reach of small children and pets.
  

Children and Pets

• Poinsettias are known to be poisonous to humans and animals, so keep them well out of reach, or avoid having them.
• Keep decorations at least 6 inches above the child's reach.
• Avoid using tinsel. It can fall on the floor and a curious child or pet may eat it. This can cause anything from mild distress to death.
• Keep any ribbons on gifts and tree ornaments shorter than 7 inches. A child could wrap a longer strand of ribbon around their neck and choke.
• Avoid mittens with strings for children. The string can get tangled around the child's neck and cause them to choke. It is easier to replace a mitten than a child.
• Watch children and pets around space heaters or the fireplace. Do not leave a child or pet unattended.
• Store scissors and any sharp objects that you use to wrap presents out of your child's reach.
• Inspect wrapped gifts for small decorations, such as candy canes, gingerbread men, and mistletoe berries, all of which are choking hazards.
  

Security

• Use your home burglar alarm system.
• If you plan to travel for the holidays, don't discuss your plans with strangers.
• Have a trusted friend or neighbor to keep an eye on your home.

I wish you a Safe and Merry Christmas!