Periodically flushing out the lime and other sediments in the water heater tank improves the heater's efficiency and lifespan. In neglected water heaters, sediment can accumulate and calcify, making it difficult to remove. This can get so bad that the entire unit may need to be replaced.
Water heaters have lifespans of 8 to 12 years, but they can fail sooner or become less efficient without proper maintenance. Water heater manufacturers suggest flushing your water heater every year to get rid of sediment build up inside of it.
Sediment can also make your water heater less effective by reducing its hot water output over time, making it less energy efficient and costing you money. The sediment sits in the bottom of the tank and gets in the way of the heating system, keeping it from heating efficiently.
Yes. As part of your regular water heater maintenance schedule, flushing and draining your water heater regularly boosts the quality of water in your home. It could also save you money long-term, as you can prolong the life of your tank with maintenance.
Water Heater Maintenance Tips
Flush your water heater every six months or so. If you have harder water, or water that contains more minerals, you may want to flush it more often. If you leave town, change your water heater to its vacation setting. The pilot light will stay on, but the water will not be heated.
While draining your water heater once a year is the minimum recommended maintenance, flushing it twice a year is ideal. If you live in an area with high mineral content, more frequent flushing may be necessary to prevent mineral buildup in the tank.
Open the hot water tank drain valve. Let the water run out the garden hose. This can take 20 to 60 minutes, depending on how big the tank is.
Flush the tank regularly
This can shorten the lifespan of the unit and lead to expensive repairs. To avoid this, it's important to flush the tank regularly. Most manufacturers recommend flushing the tank once a year. But if your home has hard water, you probably need to flush it more often.
Turn the cold water supply again and allow it to run until the water coming out of the hose is completely clear. This will perform a final flush of the system, removing any remaining sediment particles from your tank. Turn off the cold water supply once this step is finished.
If this heat is being blocked by sediment and other materials, then your water heater has to work harder to heat the water. There are really no downsides to flushing a water heater. Sediment build up causes damage and it is more expensive to leave it than to just flush it out regularly.
To flush your hot water tank, simply turn on the cold water spigot leading into your hot water tank. Let it run for a few minutes until the water exiting your hose runs clear. This may take a bit.
Open a hot water faucet somewhere in the house. Open the water heater drain valve (beware of hot water!). Flush 3 to 4 gallons, then close the valve (if draining, continue until empty).
It only takes about 15 to 30 minutes to completely drain a water heater. A typical 40- to 60-gallon residential tank found in most homes will take no more than 15 minutes. However, larger tanks (80 gallons or more) found in homes with larger families can take longer, usually from 30 to 60 minutes; sometimes more.
Tankless water heaters typically have a lifespan of 20 years or more. Traditional water heaters with standing water tanks can last around 10 to 15 years before you notice signs of age.
If a water heater is ten years or older, you should start thinking about replacing it. At the least, you should keep a closer eye on it. For example, if you see leaks around the base of your water heater, it's probably time to replace it. Before you retire your old heater, however, check for other problems.
Turn off the gas: Gas-based water heaters need to have the gas pipe leading into the thermostat shut off as well. Turn off the water: The last thing to turn off is the cold water supply, which should be cranked off like any other water valve in your home.
Hot water that smells like rotten eggs can mean you have hydrogen sulfide in your water. Fortunately, a water heater flush can often solve the issue by cleaning out any sulfur bacteria inside the tank.
Often time, for a slow refill toilet tank after a flush, the issue is caused by a clogged or a low water pressure. In general, a single flush 1.6 gpf or 1.28 gpf toilet tank will take around half minute (30 seconds) to one minute (60 seconds) to fill.
Turn Off the Water Heater's Power Supply
If your heater is only about one year old, you can go ahead and flush it. Before you do so, switch off the gas or electrical power that supplies energy to your tank. This is for safety purposes, as it can help prevent accidental gas leaks or shock injuries.
Connect a hose to the drainage valve and make sure that you lead it out somewhere safely to drain, knowing this water will be very hot. Into a bucket or outside are your best course of action. Drain and then flush with the cold water valve open until the water runs clear of any sediment.
With nothing more than a once-per-year flushing maintenance service, a tankless water heater can easily last 20 to 30 years, and some will even last quite a bit longer.