How To Winterize Your Hot Water Heater

As temperatures drop, many homeowners start wondering if cold weather affects a hot water heater. The answer is yes, freezing temperatures, increased hot water demand, and cold groundwater can all put added strain on your system. That’s why knowing how to winterize a water heater is an important part of preparing your home for winter.

Whether you have a traditional tank or need to know how to winterize a tankless water heater, we can help. Taking proactive steps can prevent breakdowns, improve efficiency, and extend the life of your unit. Continue reading to learn how to properly winterize your water heater to ensure you have reliable hot water all season long.

4 Ways To Prepare Your Water Heater for Winter

1. Regular Maintenance

Your water heater can suffer from sediment build-up, corrosion, and other issues during winter. A regular tank flush can eliminate the chance of sediment building up and causing problems. Flushing sediment out of the tank regularly will also help your water heater run more efficiently and extend its life.

Before cold weather sets in, tankless water heaters should be professionally flushed and descaled, too. Hard water minerals can reduce efficiency, restrict water flow, and make it harder for the system to keep up with higher winter demand.

Additionally, check your water heater and the area around it regularly for drips, pooling water, or any other signs of leakage. To prevent serious damage, schedule water heater repair as soon as you notice any problems. Cold weather can cause your water heater and pipes to contract, stressing connections and joints.

Scheduling professional water heater maintenance also helps ensure reliable hot water and reduces the risk of unexpected shutdowns.

2. Prepare For Temperature Drops

Colder weather means your water heater requires more energy to produce hot water. The colder the ambient air temperature, the harder the unit has to work to heat the water and maintain the desired temperature. Here are some tips for protecting your tank or tankless water heater during the colder months:

• Wrapping a traditional tank-style water heater in an insulating blanket helps reduce heat loss in colder ambient air. Cut a water heater insulation blanket to size, making sure to leave openings for controls, valves, ventilation components, and the thermostat.
• For tank and tankless systems, insulating exposed hot and cold water lines can help prevent heat loss as water travels to taps and reduce the risk of frozen pipes.
• Water heaters located in garages, basements, crawl spaces, or utility rooms are exposed to colder air. Adding insulation to walls or sealing drafts around the unit can help maintain a more stable operating temperature.
• For gas water heaters, make sure intake and exhaust vents are clear of debris and not exposed to extreme cold.
• Set your water heater to a moderate temperature (typically around 120°F) to avoid overheating water and wasting energy.
• If your water heater is inside a cabinet, you can open the doors and allow warm air to circulate around the unit. This measure can protect the water heater and connecting pipes from freezing during extremely cold weather.

3. Check the Temperature & Pressure (T&P) Relief Valve

Your water heater has a temperature and pressure relief valve, which should be tested periodically to ensure it moderates and releases pressure properly. This valve automatically opens to discharge excess hot water or steam if internal pressure exceeds safe limits. Proper operation ensures the system remains stable under winter conditions when demand increases.

4. Winterizing Tips Before Going On Vacation

If you’re leaving your home for a trip over winter, it’s important to prepare your water heater.

If you have a tankless unit, follow these steps:

• Set the unit to its lowest operating temperature or vacation mode. Many tankless units use vacation mode to maintain minimal internal heat or circulation. This can help reduce the risk of internal components being affected by freezing temperatures while still conserving energy.
• Leave power and gas connected so the built-in freeze protection activates automatically if indoor temperatures drop.
• Use a smart thermostat to maintain at least 55°F indoors.
• Double-check insulation on all hot/cold lines in garages, attics, or near exterior walls.

If you have a traditional tank-style unit, follow these steps:

• Lower the thermostat to the lowest safe setting or activate vacation mode if available. This maintains minimal heat in the tank to protect connected pipes without excessive energy use.
• As with tankless models, set your smart thermostat to maintain an indoor temperature of at least 55°F.
• Leave power or gas on so the unit can cycle as needed; for gas models, ensure the pilot stays lit.
• Insulate your tank and apply pipe insulation to connected hot and cold water lines (usually about 6-10ft running from the tank).

If you’re away for an extended period of time, say longer than 2 weeks, the safest thing to do is drain your water heater. This rule applies whether you have a tank or a tankless unit. Our plumbing professionals at Parobek Plumbing & Air Conditioning can help you prepare your home before you leave so you have peace of mind.

Call Parobek Plumbing & Air Conditioning

Taking the time to winterize your water heater can help prevent cold-weather issues. A few proactive steps now can go a long way toward ensuring reliable hot water throughout the winter months.

If you live in Bastrop, TX, or the surrounding areas and want help preparing your water heater for colder temperatures, Parobek Plumbing & Air Conditioning is here to help. We’ve been serving customers since 1999 and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Contact our team today to schedule a professional water heater inspection and enjoy peace of mind all winter long!