Should You Flush Your Water Heater?

The answer may be yes, and it may be no. According to Frans Cartwright, owner of Better Water Heaters a Diamond Certified company, you should either flush your water heater regularly (once a year) OR don’t do it at all.  Here’s why. Sediment builds up and calcifies over time. This makes the water heater less efficient and shortens its life. Regular flushing clears the sediment and prevents build-up. If you haven’t bothered to do the maintenance regularly, you won’t be able to wash out the calcified material and may do more harm than good.

To flush out a water heater, attach a garden hose to the drain valve, leaving your water and gas on. Open the drain valve for 2 to 3 minutes, and then simply shut off the valve. No special product is needed, just your garden hose. If your drain valve is plastic, handle gently so not to break.