Out of all the appliances in your home, your water heater is probably the most ignored. As long as the shower is hot, we tend to forget it even exists.

However, if you live in Butte County, ignoring your water heater is a very expensive mistake. Our local water can be quite "hard" in certain areas. This means it carries minerals like calcium and magnesium. Over time, these minerals separate from the water and sink to the bottom of your water heater tank. They eventually harden into a thick layer of solid sediment.

When this happens, your water heater has to work twice as hard to heat the water through that layer of rock. This spikes your utility bill and will eventually cause the tank to overheat, crack, and leak. A new water heater can easily cost $1,500 or more to replace.

Fortunately, you can prevent this by taking 30 minutes this weekend to flush your tank. Here is a simple, step by step guide to doing it safely.

Step 1: Turn Off the Power (Crucial!)

You must turn off the heat source before you drain the tank. If you have an electric water heater, go to your breaker box and flip the switch to the off position. If you drain an electric tank while the power is on, you will instantly burn out the heating elements. If you have a gas water heater, simply turn the dial on the tank to the "Pilot" or "Off" position.

Step 2: Shut Off the Water Supply

Look at the top of your water heater. You will see a pipe bringing cold water into the tank with a shut off valve. Turn that valve to stop new water from entering the tank.

Step 3: Attach a Garden Hose

At the very bottom of your water heater, you will find a drain valve that looks just like an outdoor hose spigot. Attach a standard garden hose to this valve. Run the other end of the hose outside to your driveway or into a floor drain. Please remember that the water coming out will be scalding hot, so keep pets and kids away from the end of the hose.

Step 4: Let It Drain

Go inside your house and turn on the hot water at your kitchen sink. Leaving a faucet open allows air into the plumbing system, which helps the tank drain much faster. Next, go back to your water heater and open the drain valve. Let the tank drain completely. You will likely see chunks of white or gray sediment flow out of the hose.

Step 5: Flush the Remaining Sediment

Once the tank is empty, leave the drain valve open and turn the cold water supply valve at the top of the tank back on for about 15 seconds. This will stir up any remaining sediment at the bottom. Let it drain out, and repeat this process until the water running out of your hose is completely clear.

Step 6: Refill and Restart

Close the drain valve tightly and disconnect your garden hose. Turn the cold water supply valve back on and let the tank fill up. You will know it is completely full when water starts flowing normally out of the kitchen sink faucet you left open earlier. Once the tank is full, turn off the kitchen sink. You can now safely turn the electricity breaker back on or turn your gas dial back to the "On" position.

The Bottom Line

Flushing your water heater once a year is one of the easiest ways to protect your investment and keep your home running smoothly.

If you are looking for a home with updated plumbing and efficient appliances, I can help you find exactly what you need. Let's chat about your real estate goals for this year.

Sources

Bob Vila

This Old House

The U.S. Department of Energy