Plumbing

A water heater is basically a storage tank that heats and then holds water. For a water tank to work, it needs a heat source a thermostat to regulate the temperature of the water, a cold water supply source and a hot water outlet to supply the home. It also has some other very necessary components. For safety, it has a vent for combustion gases, and a pressure relief valve (also temperature pressure relief valve, or just relief valve), a safety device that releases pressure from the tank if either the internal temperature or pressure gets too high. For efficient operation, a hot water tank has an anode, a metal rod that prevents corrosion and helps eliminate smells from the water; a dip tube, which directs cold unheated water to the bottom of the tank; and a drain valve near the bottom of the tank so it can be emptied.