The water heater in your home is responsible for providing hot water whenever you need it. Therefore, it’s important to flush the tank occasionally to keep this water heater running smoothly.
If you’re a homeowner, you have many tasks that need to be done — and flushing your water heater tank probably isn’t at the top of your list. However, there are many reasons why you should flush your water heater regularly. In fact, failing to have your water heater flushed by a professional technician can lead to many serious problems.
Let’s discuss what happens if you don’t flush your water heater.
Why Should You Flush Your Water Heater?
Flushing a water heater is a pretty simple maintenance task. During one of these services, a professional will start by shutting off the system. If you have an electric water heater in your home, the technician will shut off the electricity. If you have a gas water heater, the gas must be turned off.
From here, the technician will connect a hose to the water heater’s drain valve. This valve will either be inserted into a floor drain or a large bucket to dispose of the water. The water heater may need to be flushed a few times if there is a significant amount of sediment buildup along the bottom of the tank.
As cold water enters your water heater, it can deposit minerals such as calcium and magnesium onto the bottom of the tank. If this sediment is allowed to build up over time, it can lead to several inconvenient and costly issues.
Poor Efficiency
So, what happens if you don’t flush your water heater? For starters, sediment buildup can have a negative effect on your water heater’s energy efficiency.
Your water heater’s main objective is to heat the water within the tank. However, if there’s a large amount of sediment along the bottom of your tank, the water heater won’t be able to properly heat the water, as the sediment will get in the way.
When sediment buildup occurs, your water heater must work extra hard to provide you with the hot water you desire. As a result, you can waste a lot of energy and incur higher utility bills. This sediment can also lead to poor water pressure, heating element problems, and a blocked pressure relief valve — among other issues.
Damaging Corrosion
If you’ve recently installed a new water heater, regularly draining the tank can help ensure it remains in peak condition. After all, flushing your hot water heater can prevent the various components and the tank itself from rusting.
The sediment within your water heater tank can cause the fittings and valves to rust over time. Eventually, this corrosion can result in cracks and leaks. In the end, you may need to schedule a water heater replacement in San Francisco if the damage is too severe.
You should flush your water heater to prevent corrosion from occurring, among other problems. Corrosion, cracks, and other types of visible damage are not a laughing matter, as they can lead to serious water damage in your home.
Water Discoloration
Are you still wondering what happens if you don’t flush your water heater? If so, you might want to look at the color of your water when you turn on a tap or hop in the shower.
You expect your hot water to be crystal clear on any regular day. But, unfortunately, sediment buildup within your water heater tank can make your water look cloudy, rusty, or just plain dirty. While discolored water can be a terrible sight to behold, it can also be incredibly unsanitary.
How Often Should You Have Your Water Heater Flushed?
Now that you know what happens if you don’t flush your water heater, you might wonder how often you should schedule these services. Overall, you should consider draining your water heater twice a year.
In some cases, you might want to have a professional technician drain your water heater on a more regular basis if you have hard water. As you may know, hard water contains many minerals — and these minerals can easily end up inside your water heater tank if you aren’t careful.
Schedule Water Heater Maintenance Today!
Hopefully, you now understand why you should flush your water heater regularly. This simple maintenance task can ensure that your water heater remains in the best condition possible and doesn’t suffer any serious damage or corrosion.
Don’t flush the water heater tank yourself if you don’t feel comfortable doing so. Instead, calling a professional technician for the job is a good idea. The experienced team at Fast Water Heater offers top-quality maintenance services, including hot water heater flushing!
Our experts are happy to answer any questions you may have and assist with all of your needs. We specialize in both traditional and tankless water heaters, so there’s nothing we can’t do. So if you need a hot water tank leak repair or installation, rest assured that we’ll get the job done right.
Are you ready to get started? Contact us today to schedule water heater maintenance!