Just like a car, your water heater needs attention and tune-ups in order to continue working efficiently. Draining and flushing out sediment from your water heater is an important task. Not cleaning out the sediment regularly can lead to many problems.
What is Sediment?
Sediment is made up of any solid material that isn’t dissolved in the water in your heater. We all like to think the water coming into our homes is 100% clean, but the truth is, it can contain very small particles of sand and debris that settle to the bottom of your heater.
In addition to small debris, minerals also cause sediment buildup. Our water contains calcium, magnesium, and iron. Over time, the minerals build up causing sediment at the bottom of the water tank and rust. Small amounts of sediment are no problem, but as the sediment gradually accumulates, it affects the efficiency of your heater.
Sediment settles to the bottom of the heater where the heating elements are located. This causes the element to work harder as it tries to heat water through this layer of sediment. When your heater has to work harder to heat water, it runs more often, raising your gas or electric bill.
Sediment from your water heater can also get into your home’s plumbing, eventually causing possible clogs and buildup. Buildup in your pipes will decrease your home’s water pressure. Both of these situations can lead to costly repairs.
Keep Your Water Heater Clean
You now understand the importance of flushing your heater, but how often do you need to do this? Most experts recommend flushing every 12 months. A more accurate answer depends on how many people are living in the home using the heater.
- One to two people – flush every 12 months
- Three to five people – flush every 8 months
- Six or more people – flush every 6 months
By flushing regularly, you can be assured your heater is working properly and efficiently. Keep your heater running efficiently by calling Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning today and have a professional cleaning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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