Time to inspect your water heater for problems:

For many people, there is nothing better than a nice hot shower or a warm relaxing bath at the end of a fraught and busy day. This luxury is provided courtesy of your water heater and unless it suddenly decides to go about you often will never think of it. When it comes to water heaters though, when they go bad they go bad spectacularly. Without proper maintenance, you may be making your way to the bathroom via a rowboat. Here are a few things you can do to prevent massive flooding in your home.

• Find your water heater. Your water heater will typically be located along an exterior wall, near gas and water supply lines, in a closet, in the basement, or in your garage.
• Have a look at it. Check for signs that the tank is rusting or if there are any leaks.
• Flush your water heater. If you clear out your water heater once or twice a year you can help it maintain optimum efficiency and extend its life cycle.
• Make sure that your water heater is not suffering from rust as this will only get worse over time.
• If this is a gas water heater you may find that more maintenance is to in order to take care of that part of it.

The more often and thoroughly you inspect a water heater the more likely you are to prevent any major problems before they appear. Common preventative measures can save you a world of headaches in the future.