Water heaters need regular cleaning to eliminate sediment buildup in the tank. You may be wondering, where does the sediment come from? Believe it or not, it actually comes from your water. Unless your home has a water treatment system installed, the water circulating through your plumbing system is hard water, or water that is full of minerals like calcium and magnesium. Over time, the sediment in the water will settle at the bottom of your water heater tank and continue to build up until it is cleaned.
A water heater tank that has a lot of sediment buildup will not perform as efficiently as a clean tank. In fact, sediment buildup is responsible for extensive water heater damage and hot water shortages. In really bad cases, the water heater can burst and cause serious flooding and water damages.
To avoid the disastrous consequences, all you need to do is flush your tank once a year. It’s a quick and easy process that homeowners can perform themselves or reach out to Hutchinson for expert plumbing services, available in Haddonfield and surrounding areas.
How to Flush
- Turn off the water heater.
- Turn off the cold water valve.
- Turn on the hot water handle on any faucet: This prevents a vacuum from forming. Let the water flow throughout the entire draining process.
- Connect a garden hose to the drainage spigot: Make sure you tighten the hose so there are no leaks. Place the other end of the hose into a bucket.
- Turn the drain valve: You’ll probably need a screwdriver as the valve is sealed tightly. Be prepared to frequently empty the bucket and don’t leave the area unattended while draining.
- Flush the tank: Turn on the cold water valve so any remaining sediment is flushed out. Leave it on until the water runs clear.
- Turn off the cold water valve once the water in the bucket is clear of sediment.
- Turn the drain valve off: Make sure you tighten it with a screwdriver.
Disconnect the hose.
Turn on the cold water supply valve. - Turn on the water heater: Your hot water supply should be restored in about 30 minutes.
- Turn off the faucet.
Symptoms of Sediment Buildup
https://youtu.be/LXECPJQS1J0There you go. You’ve successfully flushed your water heater. Now you can go forth and enjoy clean hot water for all your cleaning needs. If at any point you run into trouble while flushing your water heater, or you’re not comfortable doing it yourself in the first place, you’re more than welcome to call Hutchinson for professional HVAC services in Haddonfield or surrounding areas.