Sediment sometimes looks like sand, but it is made up of minerals from your home’s water supply. These minerals don’t dissolve, and subsequently, turn into particles inside your unit. Unfortunately, this build-up can cause significant problems if left unchecked—costing you time and money by shortening the unit’s efficiency and functionality, and potentially causing the water heater to fail prematurely. In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey explains how to drain and flush a water heater.
Water Heater Maintenance Tips
How to Flush a Water Heater:
How to Tell if Your Water Heater Has Sediment Build-Up
There are a variety of indicators that your water heater has a sediment build-up including:
Energy bills go up despite no increased usage Hot water runs out prematurely The water heater makes noise while it’s running Your hot water looks rusty or has a bad odor It takes a long time for the hot water to warm up The water temperature is inconsistent and fluctuates
Draining a water heater is a relatively easy task that homeowners can tackle, but if the water doesn’t drain or the heater’s performance issues don’t improve after flushing the unit, a professional will be able to identify other potential problems that may not be recognizable to the homeowner.
