Have you taken a moment to thank your household appliances lately? No, that doesn’t mean patting them on the head and telling them good job. Although we suppose that’s an option, we find a better way to show appreciation for these items is to keep up with their routine maintenance. In your water heater’s case, that means a spa day.
If you’ve been enjoying hot showers, clean dishes, and water that lacks a certain swampy smell, it’s time to show some love to the one behind it all: the famous water heater. She’s working overtime to keep your house running in ways you don’t even notice. However, like the rest of us, she needs a break. In other words, it’s time for your yearly water heater flush.
At On the Way Plumbing, we recognize that this isn’t taught to every homeowner when they’re handed the keys. However, we’ve also seen the results of skipping this task. Spoiler alert: it’s not great. But don’t worry, we’re here to walk you through everything you need to know about flushing your water heater, why it matters, how often it should happen, and how we can make the whole thing effortless.
What is a Water Heater Flush?
Think of your water heater like a teapot that never gets cleaned. Every time it heats up water, tiny mineral deposits (like calcium and magnesium) settle at the bottom of the tank. Over time, those minerals build up into a crusty, sludgy mess that can clog things up, make your heater noisy, and eventually cause it to fail altogether.
A water heater flush is exactly what it sounds like: we drain the tank and flush out all that sediment, giving your water heater a fresh start.
It’s like a detox for your plumbing, but without the juice cleanse.
Why Does Your Water Heater Need a Flush?
To put it simply, if you don’t flush your water heater regularly, it won’t last as long as you want it to (i.e., as long as it should). Without the maintenance, your water heater is having to work extra hard to compensate for the amount of build-up inside. It’s like swimming through mud instead of water.
Specifically, here’s what happens when you let sediment build up in your water heater:
- Reduced Efficiency
Sediment creates a barrier between the burner and the water, which means your heater has to work overtime to do the same job. That’s like running a marathon in a parka. You’ll see it reflected in your energy bill. - Lukewarm Showers
If your “hot” water suddenly feels like it’s giving up halfway through shampooing, sediment could be to blame. It reduces the available space in your tank, meaning less hot water overall. - Weird Noises
Does your water heater sound like it’s growling, rumbling, or trying to start a garage band? That’s the sound of steam bubbles trapped under sediment. It’s not haunted, just dirty. - Shorter Lifespan
All that buildup puts stress on your tank, which can cause leaks, corrosion, or total failure. A neglected water heater might not make it to retirement age. - Funky Smells or Rusty Water
Sediment can mix with bacteria or rust, which may give your water an unpleasant odor or tint. If it smells like rotten eggs, that’s your water heater crying for help.
If any of these sounds familiar, and we’ve been the first one to enlighten you about water heater flushes – Congratulations! We’ve probably just diagnosed your issue. Let’s explore that a bit further.
Signs It’s Time for a Flush (Like… Now)
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Oh no, when’s the last time I flushed that thing?” you’re probably overdue.
Here are some red flags:
- Water takes forever to heat up
- Strange banging or popping noises
- Rust-colored water
- Smelly water
- Visible leaks near the tank
- You have no memory of the last time it was flushed (or if it ever has been)
Don’t worry. We’re not here to judge. We’re just here to fix it.
How Often Should You Flush It?
Most manufacturers recommend flushing your tank once a year (they probably secretly hid this from you in the manual you’ve never seen before). If you live in an area with hard water (hello, Central Oregon), you might need to do it more often. Hard water is like a mineral party in your pipes, and your heater takes the brunt of it.
Here’s a quick guide:
- Standard homes: Once per year
- Hard water zones: Every 6 to 9 months
- Tankless water heaters: Yep, those need flushing too! Usually once a year with a descaling solution.
If you don’t know how hard your water is, that’s okay. Having a professional out can usually give you a better perspective and, if needed, recommend a testing company. For general purposes, just know that if it’s been more than 12 months since a flush, your water heater is due for another.
Can You Do It Yourself?
You can… technically. But it takes a bit of grunt work (and the proper tools), and if things go wrong it could lead to a Not-So-Fun clean-up job. Plus, it’s not the most exciting way to spend a Saturday.
Flushing involves shutting off the water supply, powering down the heater, finding the drain valve (often in awkward corners), attaching a hose, carefully draining gallons of scalding water, flushing the tank multiple times, watching for leaks, and then putting everything back together.
And that’s assuming nothing goes wrong.
If you love plumbing projects and own a pair of goggles, by all means, give it a shot. But if you’d rather avoid floods, burns, or colorful language, let a professional take care of it. The way we see it, if your water heater is getting a mini-weekend vacation, you should be entitled to one as well. We’re happy to get our hands wet so you don’t have to.
What Happens During a Professional Flush?
If you aren’t convinced this is a job you should hire a company for, let’s explore the reasons why it may be a great investment together. When you call On the Way Plumbing for a water heater flush, here’s what we will do for you:
- Safety First
We shut off the power and water supply, check for any leaks, and make sure the area is safe to work in. - Draining the Tank
We attach a hose and drain the tank into a safe location (not your flower bed, don’t worry), making sure to open the temperature and pressure relief valve (T&P valve) or a nearby hot water tap to prevent vacuum lock. - Sediment Removal
Using water pressure and (sometimes) cleaning agents, we flush out all the gunk inside the tank. - Inspection
While the tank is empty, we inspect the sacrificial anode rod for corrosion, check the dip tube for deterioration, and examine the tank liner, shut-off valve, and drain valve for signs of wear and tear. If anything looks sketchy, we’ll let you know. - Refill and Restart
Once the tank is clean, we fill it back up, restore power, and make sure everything’s heating as it should. For electric models, we wait until the tank is full before restoring power to avoid dry firing the heating elements. For gas models, we light the pilot or check the igniter and ensure the burner is functioning properly. Once that’s done, you should be back to your regularly scheduled 30-minute showers.
Since I’m guessing a few of those words sounded brand new, it may be a sign that professional hands are best for your home. If it also sounds exhausting, you see why it takes a fair bit of training to get it done as efficiently as we can.
The Cost of Skipping It
Ignoring your water heater’s needs is like ignoring your car’s oil changes. It might seem fine for a while, but eventually you’ll be stuck with a mess, and a bill to match.
If the idea of pampering your water heater doesn’t convince you to invest in a professional water heater flush (I won’t tell her you said that), then maybe a more realistic depiction of neglect or a bad DIY job will. Imagine this:
You moved into your first house 2 years ago and have never heard of flushing your water heater. Now, your water smells off and isn’t heating properly.
You research and read about water heater flushes and decide it isn’t worth the cost to call a company out. Maybe you’ll just ignore it for another year. But you also have a garden hose, so you could probably do it yourself… until you’re an hour deep into the process and realize you don’t know if your machine needs a descaling solution, or that YouTube how-to video skips a step in the process, or that tiny pipe leak in the back never gets noticed.
Now you’re facing a water heater that still doesn’t run properly, a unit malfunction, or a water damage issue. The result is the same: a significantly lighter wallet and a much bigger, longer project.
No, we don’t want you to be afraid of your water heater, but we do want homeowners to understand that home maintenance is actually pretty important. Plus, a flush is way cheaper than a full replacement. The average costs for a basic water heater replacement are between $1,200 and $2,000. A flush? A fraction of that.
Think of it as preventative care. You wouldn’t skip brushing your teeth just because your mouth “feels fine,” right? At least, that’s not what the professionals at your dentist’s office say when you come in for a teeth cleaning. Just like them, we have the experience and expertise to keep you from having a very uncomfortable and expensive situation.
Let’s Keep It Flowing
At On the Way Plumbing, we’re experts at keeping your home’s systems running smoothly. Water heater flushes are one of those unglamorous but essential services that make a huge difference in your comfort, safety, and monthly bills.
If your water heater needs a little TLC, get in touch with us. We’ll take care of the flush so you can enjoy long, steamy showers without worrying about what’s lurking at the bottom of the tank.
Your water heater works hard for you. It’s time to return the favor. Let’s get you on the way to a happy-appliance household.