Many homeowners are aware of the advice to flush their water heater once a year, and even more have no idea it should be done. In reality, based on industry surveys, it’s probably only 1 in 10 homeowners that either remember or take the time to get that flush done.
So the question we are answering for you today is “What maintenance should be done for a water heater, and when should it be done?”
Recommended Maintenance
What Is Water Heater Maintenance?
There are some really important water heater maintenance tasks that should be done and can extend the lifespan of your water heater. Some are tasks you can do yourself, and some we recommend having done by a professional plumber. Having regularly scheduled maintenance tasks done are essential to preserve the investment you made when you had your water heater installed.
However, if you have never had any maintenance done on an older water heater NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO START! Read on for recommended maintenance, when to have it done, and when not to do it!
Did You Know...
Once a water heater reaches a certain age some types of maintenance can cause leaks, damage, or complete water heater failure.
Recommended Water Heater Maintenance
Annual Water Heater Flush
Priority: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How Often: Annually or bi-annually for untreated well water or really hard water
Why: Flushing your water heater removes sediment buildup from the bottom of the tank. Sediment buildup insulates the bottom of your tank making your water heater work harder and heat longer. Flushing out this sediment extend your tank life.
Is This DIY: Yes if you’re a little handy! This is also a service we are happy to take care of for you!
⚠️ DO NOT Do This If: Your tank is older than 10 years and has never been flushed. Our rule of thumb is if the tank is no longer under a manufacturer warranty and has never been flushed don’t do it.
Why Not: The sediment lining the bottom of your tank may now be sealing the bottom, and dislodging this sediment may expose leaks.
Replace The Anode Rod
Priority: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
How Often: Every 3-5 years
Why: Your anode rod is a sacrificial part of your water heater that deteriorates over time, and this is by design. The anode rod corrodes instead of the steel tank. Once the anode rod is used up, corrosion ramps up inside of the tank.
Is This DIY: Probably not. They can be really hard to remove and require a certain amount of expertise.
⚠️ DO NOT Do This If: Your tank is older than 6 years with no maintenance done, or older than 10 years with regular maintenance. You can’t always tell from the outside what the condition of a water heater looks like inside.
Why Not: If the anode rod has already failed then corrosion has started inside of your water heater. Trying to remove it can damage internal parts of the water heater or stir up sediment that causes a leak.
Check The Expansion Tank
Priority: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
How Often: Every 3-5 years
Why: If you are on city water instead of a well, then the expansion tank absorbs the pressure caused by heating the water. An expansion tank is about half full of air, and the rubber bladder that separates the air and the water deteriorates over time. Once the expansion tank fails, it becomes waterlogged and no longer absorbs that pressure. This increases pressure on your plumbing fixtures, and often can become the culprit for intermittent toilet leaks or failed faucet cartridges.
Is This DIY: If you have some basic plumbing knowledge, it could be. Make sure you are certain of what you’re doing before you start, or you could end up with a leaking mess.
⚠️ You Can ALWAYS Do This: Because your expansion tank is not a direct part of your water heater, you can replace it any time as needed.
Why: The expansion tank is installed on the cold water line leading to your water heater, so no matter how old your tank is you won’t be disturbing the tank itself.
Safety Check
Priority: ⭐⭐⭐
How Often: Annual
Why: Your water heater is either connected to electricity or powered by gas or propane. It’s also full of very hot water. You should check it annually to make sure that it’s in good working condition and running safely. A safety check includes:
- Make sure the set temperature is not above 120 degrees when it could scald someone
- Check all electrical or fuel connections
- Check for proper venting if gas or propane is in use
- Check for rust, leaks, or corrosion
- Ensure that clutter hasn’t accumulated around the water heater that could prevent enough air needed for combustion on gas or propane heaters
Is This DIY: It can be if you know what you’re looking for. If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, or if something looks like it may be a concern, then it’s time to call in a professional plumber for an inspection.
⚠️ You Can ALWAYS Do This: It is ALWAYS important to check for general safety issues with your water heater.
Why: Scalding from water heaters set too high can happen in the blink of an eye. For gas or propane water heaters improper venting can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Rust, leaks, or corrosion could be a sign that a small mess could soon turn into a big one.