15 Ways to Keep Water Heaters Heating

One of the most unpleasant surprises a laundry owner receives is when his otherwise dependable water heater system goes down. Not only can it cost an operator lots of money to repair or replace items lost to time and wear, but it can cost a loss of their business'' income as well. Some of the potential for loss can be reduced or even delayed for a long time by a timely preventative maintenance schedule designed to keep the system working. Most water heating systems consist of one or more heaters, a hot water storage tank and a recirculating system. For safety, there are safety thermostats and a ''pop off'' valve on the tank. The things that seem to draw the most visits from repair personnel are thermocuples for the water heaters, recirculating pumps and the motors for the pumps. In the case of the thermocuples, they are so inexpensive that many coin laundry operators keep one on hand in case of a breakdown. This way they can be down for hours, not days or weeks. Once you have seen it done, it''s the kind of job operators can do for themselves. Pumps can last for years, if they are maintained regularly. Most will have an oil cap that can be flipped up to allow periodic lubrication. Still, it is only a matter of time until something goes wrong with pump motors or with the recirculating pump itself. Gasket material breaks down over time. When it does, there will be a leak. These leaks are usually small at first and are hardly noticeable, unless you are looking for such leaks. As they grow, they can become more costly. Gasketing isn''t expensive and usually is available quickly at plumbing supply outlets, Still, it is wise to keep a sheet of the right kind of gasket material on hand to save travel time to and fro just to replace it. When you have the material on hand, again your system is down for hours, not days. Pumps for most hot water systems are of a standard two inch variety. Their purpose is to recirculate water from the far end of the hot water lines back to the tank and heater in order to keep a constant and usable water temperature at the washers. Pumps run continuously during business hours and have been known to last 30 years or more, if properly cared for. For operators, the pump is the heart of their coin laundry business. When it''s down, you''re down. Proper maintenance consists first of doing regular checks for leaks, then lubricating the pump and it''s motor on a scheduled basis. Check once each month or so. When the motor or pump starts to go, there is a change in the sounds they make. When they are on the way out, order replacements while they are still working. It will have to be done sooner or later anyway, so it doesn''t cost more now than it would in an emergency. Then, at a time most suitable for you and your business, you exchange the old one with the new. It''s quick and neat and there''s little or no loss of income. There are laundry operators who will rebuild the pump they have removed so as to have another on hand for the next failure. That takes a lot of skill and patience, but to many it''s worth it. When checking hot water systems, look to see that the storage tank''s pop off valve moves freely, and isn''t stuck. Thermostats can be checked by using a thermometer to verify they provide the right temperatures. If thermostats or pop off valves go, they are usually available locally, and easily replaced.