If you are like most people, you probably take your water heater for granted as long as it produces hot water for your shower and kitchen sink. You may be surprised to learn that your water heater needs routine maintenance to keep it operating at peak performance. One of the tasks required is flushing it regularly to get rid of sediment. Here’s what you need to know.
Sediment from your water collects in the water heater and settles to the bottom of the tank. This is especially true if you have hard water. Calcium and magnesium, two common elements found in hard water, also bind together to form scale, which is a sticky, white substance that can clog pipes and line the inside of your water heater. This makes it more difficult for your water heater to operate efficiently and may decrease the water flow from your water heater.
Most people call in a plumber to flush the water heater, but you can do it yourself if you are up to the task. You need to turn off the water heater and the water supply to the tank. Attach a hose to the drain on your water heater and drain out all the water from the tank. This will remove most of the sediment in the water tank. Turn off the faucet and remove the hose. Turn the water supply back on to refill the water tank with clean water. Turn the water heater on when the tank has refilled. Your plumber can go a step further and clean the inside of the tank, check the rods and other vital elements, and alert you if there is a potential problem.
Water heaters typically require flushing once a year to keep them performing well. However, the amount of mineral deposits in your water also affects how often you need to flush the heater. Homes with extremely hard water may need the water heater flushed more often, while those with relatively few mineral deposits in the water may be able to go a bit longer.
There are several indicators that your water heater needs to be flushed. Watch for these signs:
To schedule a routine water heater flush, contact us at Crawford Mechanical Services today. We can flush and clean your water heater and alert you any potential problems. We also provide 24-hour emergency plumbing services