…on your water heater!
What?
Flush the sediment from your water heater.
When?
Twice a year. Now is a good time.
Why?
Remember the whitish coating on the interior of an empty water glass. The films on the inside of the glass were the salts and minerals left after the water evaporated. That was just one glass of water; imagine how much sediment is left on the bottom of your water heater with thousands of gallons going through it. The sediment settling at the bottom acts as an insulator. Heat transfer to the water is significantly reduced. This leads to shorter water heater life expectancy and much higher energy costs.
How?
There is a drain valve on the side of your water heater, near the bottom. It looks like a typical outdoor faucet — there is a handle and a threaded spout. Attach a hose to the drain valve and direct it to a floor drain.
TIP: The water you are draining is extremely hot. Be very careful!
Shut off the water supply. Open the drain valve until the water runs clear. Depending on how long it takes, you may choose to drain the sediment more or less frequently. MAKE SURE YOU TURN THE SUPPLY BACK ON.
Tips from this article, image and info all provided by PROSinspections.com