Draining Your Hot Water Heater
May 10th, 2010 | by admin |Nothing lasts forever and hot water heaters are no exception. Major repairs or maintenance will usually require a professional plumber. However, there is routine maintenance that a homeowner can employ to extend the life of the water heater. Sediment builds up in every hot water heater. It gathers more quickly in those areas that have especially hard water. The sediment in the bottom of a hot water heater can cause corrosion and shorten the life span of the heater.
Simply draining a few gallons of water periodically from the drain valve at the bottom of the heater helps remove this sediment.
You can use an old garden hose to direct the water from the heater to an outside location. Draining the entire water heater on occasion is also a good idea but requires you to shut the water heater off and you might just need the help of your local Phoenix plumber.