Keep It Hot (the water)- Taking care of your water heater
Dirt and mineral deposits build up over time in your water heater. This build-up can decrease the heating efficiency of the heater and it can reduce the capacity of the tank. Water heaters are pretty much maintenance free but if you take the extra step of flushing out the residue once a year you can increase the efficiency and life of the applicance.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Generally:
1. First, you should open one of the hot-water faucets in your lakeplace to relieve the pressure or vaccum in the water lines that can occur when you flush the water heater.
2. Locate the drain valve on the water heater and place a bucket under it. Turn it on.
3. Let it drain until the murky water subsides and the water coming out of the valve is clear. The murky water is the residue being removed from the tank of the hot water heater. It will probably drain about 1-2 gallons before the water becomes clear. Once it does - the job is done.
Dishwasher: Use It or Lose It
The phrase applies to muscle tone for your body, but did you know that it could also be true for your dishwasher? If you have a dishwasher in your lakeplace, keep in mind that underuse of the dishwasher can dry out seals in the dishwasher and cause leaking. So don't feel bad if you run half of a load of dishes once in a while.