Do you really know how to save money?
A typical water heater in Singapore lasts around five years—if you’re lucky. Lately, I’ve heard horror stories of heaters conking out even faster.
What’s truly baffling?
Watching people settle for cheap, flimsy models that barely make it to past their 5th birthday. Why throw away good, hard earned money on something so temporary?
Here's a golden rule to live by:
Cheap thing no good, good thing no cheap
It’s time we stop being penny wise and pound foolish! Isn’t it smarter to invest in a heater that actually saves you money in the long run?
Take A. O. Smith water heaters, for example. These aren’t just heaters—they’re legends. Built on integrity and engineered to last, they’re the kind of purchase you brag about. Don’t believe me? Look at this AOS tank from Chiltern Park Condo that lasted an astonishing 25 years before it finally bowed out. That’s what I call getting your money’s worth!
Ready to make your heater go the distance? Stick around! I've got all the tips to help you maintain it like a pro. Let’s make that investment of yours pay off big time!
Why Do You Need to Maintain a Water Heater?
Did you know that authorities recommend you maintain your water heater regularly, every three years, in fact? Here’s the proof in black and white: an official circular spells it out.
But here’s the catch with most water heater companies... They’re just resellers. They’re focused on closing the deal, not on helping you maintain your heater to stand the test of time. If your heater spoils earlier? Good, they can make another sale. That’s why they’ll never tell you about the importance of maintenance. We do.
Really, it’s no surprise. If you want anything to work well and last long, you’ve got to take care of it. Think about it. Don’t we send our cars for servicing regularly? Or maintain our air-conditioner every 6 months? The water heater is no different.
At AOS Bath, we take this seriously. That’s why we make it our responsibility to remind you every 3 years when your heater is due for routine service.
But here’s the surprising part: many people balk at the cost of maintenance, asking if it’s really compulsory. Here’s the truth. Unlike a car, it’s not legally required to maintain your water heater. But if you skip it? Your heater’s lifespan shrinks—and that’s going to cost you a lot more in the long run.
Don’t fall into the trap of short-term thinking, do the math! What does it mean if your water heater could potentially last five times longer than the cheap one you’ve been replacing every few years? It means massive savings! You'll save on:
- Cost of new heater
- Labour cost
- Your wasted time (insert your hourly rate x 3)
Add it all up, and the numbers don’t lie. imagine skipping all that hassle and cost, stretching every single dollar you’ve spent on your heater by making it last as long as possible. That’s the power of regular maintenance.
1. Maintain for Safety: Protecting Your Home and Loved Ones
Your water heater isn’t just a convenience. It is also the highest wattage appliance in your home, running at a hefty 3000-4000 watts. That kind of power demands respect, and proper safety maintenance is non-negotiable. After all, nothing is more important than keeping your family safe.
Here’s what we do:
Inspect loose connections: Loose wires are a recipe for disaster.
Check heater switch and isolator wires: Are the wires melted or at risk of melting? Are they the correct size for your heater? Undersized wires can overheat and melt easily, causing power trips—or worse. If we find anything amiss, we’ll reconnect or replace as needed.
Verify installation quality: If your heater wasn’t installed by our team, we’ll ensure the setup is safe and up to standard.
External tank inspection: A visual check ensures everything is in good shape and there are no hidden hazards.
Can you tell: which is the right wire for your heater?
Maintaining safety isn’t just important. It is essential. And if something doesn’t meet the mark? We fix it on the spot.
1.2. Thermostat Settings: A Simple Way to Extend Lifespan
Beyond safety, let’s talk efficiency. The thermostat plays a key role in the longevity of your water heater. Here’s why: as your water heater heats and cools, its internal tank expands and contracts. It is a natural process that can strain the tank over time. The higher the temperature, the greater the stress.
Most water heaters come set at 70ºC by default, but lowering this to 50ºC can significantly reduce thermal expansion and extend your heater’s lifespan. If you are comfortable at 60ºC (maybe you’ve got a big family or love long showers) no problem, we won’t touch it. But where possible, lowering the thermostat is a simple tweak with big benefits. For digital heaters, you can adjust the temperature directly from the control panel, easy peasy.
Safety and efficiency go hand in hand. Maintain your heater right and you’re not just protecting your family, you’re making your heater work smarter and last longer. Let’s keep things safe, sound, and built to last!
From our experience, 50 ºC is plenty for a family of four. But don’t set the temperature below 50ºC. More on that here.
Maintain Your Heater, Keep it Top Notch!!
Glad that they sent me a reminder to service my 40L tank.
2 great service guys came on time, gave a phone call heads up. They cleaned the tank and video recorded the dirty water being flushed out.
Job done quickly. Am still happy that I installed AOS Bath water tank. 5 years still good.
Wilfred Toh
Google Review
Excellent Water Tank Maintenance Service
I recently hired AOS Bath to maintain my water tank. The team arrived promptly at 12noon and efficiently completed the task.
The service was top-notch, and the technicians Shamemul & Sumon explained the process clearly. They ensured the tank was thoroughly cleaned and checked for any leaks.
The customer service was exceptional, with friendly and responsive staff.
Overall, I'm extremely satisfied with AOS's service and would highly recommend them.
Thank you!
Bianca_Ch
Google Review
Today Bee and Shamemul from AOS Bath came to do maintenance and flushing for my 4Yrs old 100L Aosmith digital storage heater, They did a great job and they are meticulous on what they are doing.
They make sure the heater is totally clean and checked every part for any defects or problem, they even change the plumbing nuts that show sign of wear and tear.
With them doing the maintenance, I am confident that my heater will last even longer down the road.
Bit Bur
Google Review
2. Maintain Your Flow and Pressure
Here we fine tune for peak performance. The good news is that in Singapore, over 95% of households have steady and consistent incoming water pressure. But when it’s not, it can throw your heater off its game.
2.1. Pressure Checks
Water heaters perform best within a sweet spot of 2-3 bars of pressure. Go too low, and you’ll notice weaker flow at the taps—and that impacts how efficiently your heater operates. Go too high, and you’re speeding up wear and tear, which no one wants! If your pressure is off, we’ll let you know whether to contact the Town Council, MCST, or PUB for adjustments.
Water pressure reading on this gauge here is off the charts!!
2.2. Flow Rate Checks: Keeping Things Smooth at the Shower
After a thorough tank maintenance, water pressure changes can sometimes dislodge sediments lurking in your pipes. These can find their way into bath mixers, affecting your flow. That’s why we run flow rate checks at the common and master bathroom shower points to ensure everything’s in the clear.
Here’s a heads-up: if privacy concerns mean we can’t access your master bathroom, no problem. But we strongly recommend doing a quick check on the spot while our team is there. Why? Catching any issue right away saves you from the hassle (and possible extra transport costs) of calling us back later.
Flow and pressure may seem minor, but they’re key to a happy, healthy water heater. Maintain this and you can ensure smooth showers and fewer headaches down the line.
3. Heat Pump Chemical Cleaning
This chemical clean is essential to maintain high heat pump efficiency. Heat pump maintenance isn’t optional, it is compulsory. Without regular cleaning, your system is at serious risk of clogging, and trust me, you don’t want that.
Here’s what we do during a heat pump chemical clean:
Clean the air filter: Ensures smooth airflow and optimal performance.
Inspect the fan blades: Removes dirt buildup to maintain efficiency.
Check for refrigerant leaks: Catches issues early before they escalate.
You must maintain your heat pump every three years to prevent damage to the compressor. A neglected heat pump could end up running at less than 75% efficiency, and if that happens, your heat pump may never fully recover. Considering a heat pump is a $3,000 to $10,000 investment, protecting it with regular maintenance is the smart choice to maximise its lifespan and recoup your investment.
Compressor breathes in air from outside and traps lots of dust. Time for a professional chemical clean!
Is it like Aircon Maintenance?
Yes!! We make sure we service our air conditioners, but also remember the water heaters.
An air conditioner’s filters, coils, and fins need regular cleaning to keep it running on high efficiency. If you don't maintain this, performance takes a nosedive, and energy bills soar.
A heat pump works on the same principle. Its compressor needs just as much care to avoid performance dips and skyrocketing energy costs. So, why not give your heat pump the same TLC you give your aircon?
Maintain your heat pump well and lower your energy bills. Don’t skip it! Your wallet will thank you!
Unbelivable things may happen when you don't maintain that heater well.
4. Tank Flushing
Tank Flushing is immediately satisfying. Watching all that gunk wash out of your water heater is both shocking and oddly gratifying.
4.1. How come? Singapore has some of the cleanest water in the world!
True, but let’s not forget, we live in high-rise buildings, and nearly every HDB or condo has a massive water tank sitting above. These tanks get an annual cleaning, as required by PUB, to prevent contamination and ensure safe water for everyone. That means sediments still get in there.
Water tanks on rooftop of HDB flats.
Just like these water tanks, your home’s storage water heater also collects impurities over time. Water doesn’t arrive at your tap magically clean, it travels long distances, picking up sediments and tiny particles along the way. Without a filtration system to intercept them, these impurities settle in your water heater and stay there. Over time, this leads to:
Rust and brown water: We’ve seen this happen as soon as three years after installation.
Bacteria and viruses: These thrive in stagnant water.
Tank flushing wall hung heaters in HDB.
If you’re still not convinced, take a look at what we flush out during maintenance!!! When you see yellow, murky water filling the pail, you know that’s what’s been sitting in your water heater!
4.2 Tight false ceiling? We will not do a tank flush. If your inlet and outlet are too close to the ceiling boards, we may damage your ceiling or heater. Not to worry. Although tank flushing looks cool, it is not the most important part of maintenance.
Leave it to us to decide. At the end of the day, your priority is our priority. We want to leave you with a heater that works well for years to come.
Large, floor standing water heaters in landed homes.
4.3. Maintaining Wall-Hung vs. Floor-Standing Heaters
While tank flushing is a must for wall-hung water heaters, it’s not for floor-standing heaters. Let me explain why.
Floor-standing tanks are massive, typically holding 150 to 400 litres of water. Flushing one of these isn’t a quick afternoon task. It is a half-day operation. During this time, you will have no hot water for about 10 hours. In addition, get ready for a water bill spike that month. A tank flush drains 300 to 800 lit of water.
Because of this, do a floor-standing tank flushing only if you have serious water quality issues. If needed, chat with us over WhatsApp to book this separately.
5. Maintain Safety Relief Valve
The relief valve is a small but mighty part of the heater. Why? it’s your heater’s safety net, designed to release pressure build up in your tank.
When we maintain your heater, we make sure your relief valve is in tip-top condition and free from any blocks. If the valve fails or is blocked, it’s only a matter of days before your tank gives way to leaks. If your water heater leaks, it’s not repairable. You must buy a new heater.
Different types of relief valves on water heaters.
6. Maintaining a Central Heater's Pump and Timer
This is for homes with large central water heaters. A circulation pump and timer are both essential for your water heater to run smoothly.
Heater supplying several bathrooms over 3 levels are usually paired with circulating pumps and timers.
We maintain your Circulation Pumps to protect your heater from unnecessary strain, hence extending its lifespan. We also can optimise your timer settings for max energy saving.
7. If You Have Higher Standards.. Add a Pre-Filter!
Want to take your water quality to the next level? Here’s a pro tip: Install a Pre-Filter! While regular tank flushing is great, you can't do it every year. That’s where a pre-filter steps in as your everyday defender against sediments.
What are they? Pre-filters are installed before the heater. They catch visible sediments from pipe and block them from settling in your tank.
With a Pre-filter, you can:
1. Flush out sediments every few weeks:
2. Enjoy cleaner water with less dirt build up in the tank.
3. Get longer lifespan by preventing sand from entering your water heater. This reduces internal wear on the tank.
If you value pristine water, a pre-filter is the upgrade you didn’t know you needed!
