Do Hot Water Heaters Need To Be Flushed? Why?

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Do Hot Water Heaters Need To Be Flushed? Why?

Most of us tend to take our hot water system for granted. We use hot water in various areas of our homes multiple times daily. Unfortunately, even these robust units have a specific service life. Sound quality systems can last for between 8 and 10 years; however, they can last a little longer than that if you maintain them well.

If you find that your hot water runs out in the middle of a shower, you know something isn’t right with the unit.  We at Better Plumbing recommend that one of the best ways to ensure that you get the best performance and efficiency from your system is to maintain the unit in good condition. An essential maintenance task is flushing the system annually.

Why do you need to flush your water heater?

The water that comes to your property from the mains supply may be drinkable and clean; however, it does contain some minerals that tend to accumulate over a period in the hot water tank and the plumbing system. If you have hard water on your property, the mineral content will be higher, meaning that the sedimentation build-up will be more.

Signs of Sediment Buildup

Common signs that you need to flush your hot water tank:

  • If you find that the water tank is clogged and there is too much sediment, you will notice that the water flow has reduced.
  • You may also have less hot water than you usually did.
  • Sediment is flowing out of the drain valve.

You must get the hot water system inspected and flushed thoroughly in all situations. Apart from the inconvenience of insufficient hot water from a blocked system, the sediment results in corrosion of the tank.  If that happens, you will have to replace the entire unit. However, if you get the hot water tank flushed at least annually, this problem can be prevented to a great extent.

How to flush a hot water system?

Steps to follow while flashing a hot water system:

  • Turn off the water supply and electricity to the tank.
  • Open the drain valve on the tank or run a tab to drain all the water from the unit.
  • Once it is empty, you can fill it up again, and you will be good to go.
  • Turn the water back on and the power to continue using the unit.
  • If you still find some amount of sedimentation in the flow of water, refill and drain the tank a couple of times. It will help to clear out the rest of the sediment.

It is a good idea to hire the services of professionals like us that provide hot water system maintenance. In addition to using the tank, we will also carry out various other maintenance and necessary repairs.

For any more information, feel free to contact  Better Plumbing on 0488 802 916. We offer same-day bookings and service, and you can send us your service request through this Contact Us form. Our team will contact you as soon as possible.