As a homeowner, you might think of your water heater tank as something that’s undeserving of your attention. After all, this particular appliance typically sits in a secluded part of your home, such as the basement or garage, and doesn’t seem to need a lot of attention. However, it’s important to recognize that your water heater requires regular care and maintenance, just like any other system in your home.
If it’s been a long time since you gave your water heater some much-deserved TLC, you may have many questions about the system’s maintenance needs. For example, you might be asking: do water heaters need to be flushed regularly? The answer to this particular question is a definite yes. Therefore, you or a professional technician should be flushing your water heater tank at least once a year.
Let’s discuss all the reasons why you should flush your water heater on a regular basis!
How Do You Flush a Water Heater?
If you’re a homeowner, it’s pretty safe to say you have a lot of chores on your plate. From keeping your home clean to caring for your landscaping, many tasks zap up your time and demand your attention. As a result, it can be easy to overlook a few maintenance tasks from time to time, such as flushing your water heater.
The good news is that caring for your water heater is fairly easy! In fact, you might be pleased to learn that water heater maintenance services typically include a comprehensive flushing. Whether you want to handle the maintenance task yourself or wish to have your water heater flushed by a professional, knowing what goes on during one of these services can be helpful. Only a few pieces of equipment are needed, such as a garden hose (and a bucket in some cases).
Why Should You Flush Your Water Heater?
Although it seems like a task that you can push to the wayside, it’s crucial for homeowners to know that water heaters do need to be flushed regularly. You might think that your cold water supply is incredibly clean and contaminant-free. However, you may be shocked to find out that your water can still contain minerals and sediment — such as calcium. If you live in an area with hard water, you can typically expect to have water with a higher mineral content.
As this water enters your water heater to get heated, the sediment will settle at the bottom of the tank. Unfortunately, gas and electric water heaters all fall victim to sediment buildup, so it doesn’t matter which fuel type you use. As you can probably imagine, this sediment — as it collects in the tank over time — can have serious consequences for your water heater’s performance and your comfort.
Waste Less Energy
If you’re wondering why you should flush your water heater, then it’s important to talk about energy efficiency. As sediment settles at the bottom of the tank and covers the heating element, the water heater may start having trouble heating the water according to your needs. This is because the water heater will start heating the sediment instead of the water. As a result, your water heater will need to work twice as hard to do its job — which will waste a significant amount of energy. In the end, you may see a spike in your energy bills.
Flushing the tank regularly will ensure the water heater remains efficient. This is because all the sediment and minerals within the tank will be removed during the flushing process. If the sediment buildup within the water heater is excessive, you or a professional may need to flush the tank an additional time to ensure it’s all removed.
Less Damage & Corrosion
Sure, energy efficiency is important, but your priorities may be elsewhere. For example, you might be wondering: do water heaters need to be flushed if you want to keep them running in the best possible condition? The answer to this question is yes.
As sediment builds up within the water heater tank, this can lead to serious corrosion and cracks — and an eventual leak. In the end, you may find yourself needing expensive water heater services and facing down severe water damage in your home. Fortunately, draining your water heater can help you avoid a costly repair or premature replacement.
Sediment buildup can also cause issues for the components within the water heater, such as the heating element or the pressure and relief valve. Luckily, you can also protect these crucial parts with routine maintenance. There’s no need to worry about needing a sudden water heater installation in Las Vegas!
Better System Performance
Are you worried about encountering a cold shower? If so, this is definitely one of the reasons why you should flush your water heater. Sediment buildup can negatively affect your water heater’s capacity. As a result, you might notice your water heater running out of hot water much quicker than it used to.
When your water heater turns on, you want peace of mind knowing that it will provide you with the hot water you need — when you need it. The good news is that flushing your hot water heater at least once every year can ensure your hot water keeps flowing.
Choose Pure Plumbing & Air for Your Water Heater Services!
“Do water heaters need to be flushed?” If you ask a professional technician this question, you’re guaranteed to receive an enthusiastic “yes.” There’s no denying that you should flush your water heater to keep the system running efficiently and in peak condition. If you think it might be time to schedule a water heater maintenance service in Las Vegas, NV, or the surrounding areas, turn to Pure Plumbing & Air for help!
We offer many services for traditional and tankless water heaters. No matter your needs, you can count on us to have a solution and go the extra mile to ensure your satisfaction. So whether you have an electric or gas water heater, feel confident you can trust us to provide you with dependable services.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment for your Las Vegas water heater!
