Handyman Alpharetta GA: It’s Time To Flush Out Your Water Heater

If you’re reading this, this is your sign to flush your water heater. Here, we will go over some reasons why. 

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. 

The water in your tank can bring in minerals that solidify on the bottom and sides of your water heater and, unless flushed out, can cause your water heater to fail. 

Flushing not only can decrease the amount of money you spend on heating water, but will keep your tank running longer.

Handyman Alpharetta GA:  Why Flush Your Water Heater?

Flushing sediment out of your water heater can make your water heater last longer and be more efficient.

A water heater brings cold water into your home and heats it with a gas burner or electric element. 

When that cold water is initially brought into the tank, it often contains sediment that settles on the bottom or sides of the tank.

As this sediment builds up it can slow the heat transfer between the burner or electric heating element and the water. It can also break off and lodge itself into the heat-out or dip tube, causing blockages. 

Flushing your water heater annually can remove this sediment and slow this process down significantly. 

Handyman Alpharetta GA : Flushing Your Water Heater Can Increase its Life Expectancy

We’ve already learned that flushing your water heater can improve it’s efficiency, but it always increases it’s life expectancy by 100%. 

The more sediment build up the water heater has in the tank, the harder the water heater has to work to heat your water. This can cause parts of the heater to burn out quickly, reducing your water heater's life expectancy. 

Sediment can also break off and cause blockages within the tank. Sediment will cause the tank to eventually crack and leak because (especially in gas heaters) sediment build up can cause hot spots in the tank that will warp and ruin the steel.

It's estimated that water heaters that deal with hard water already have a decreased life expectancy by two or more years, and by not properly maintaining the tank, you can expect it to last for even less.

Handyman Alpharetta GA : How to Tell if Your Water Heater Has Sediment Build-Up

1. Popping or rumbling from your water heater tank.

This is water that has become trapped within the sediment and turns into steam. The sediment can also move around in the tank, causing rumbling noises.   

2. A drop in water temperature or pressure.

Sediment could be preventing the water from heating as much as it used to or it could be blocking the pipes in your home. 

Another problem that water heaters face is that the more sediment that is brought into the tank, the more likely the sediment is going to be disturbed and possibly taken into the heat-out tube, which can clog pipes as well as shower heads and faucets. 

It is always best to flush the sediment out of your tank to protect it and save you money in the long run.

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