A recent call to book a hot water system service saved Sharpe Services clients the cost of a new storage tank.

The home owners at Seaton Park suddenly realised it had been five years since the anode fitted to their hot water storage system had been checked.

Sacrificial anodes play a key role in electric, gas, solar and heat pump systems that have a storage tank subject to possible rust.

The anode is supposed to slowly degrade, with this process protecting the tank against corrosion. It also stops the heating element decaying and the thermostat giving a false sensing that will really hurt your power bill.

It should be checked every five to seven years but few people remember to get this done. If they did it would almost double the life of their system and manufacturers would be more willing to give a warranty longer than 10 years.

Getting a hot water storage unit’s anode checked and replaced costs a fraction of a new tank.