Introduction
Have you flushed your water heater lately? This important chore should be done at least once a year to remove sediment that accumulates on the bottom of the tank. That's especially true if you live in a hard-water area. The task is easy to ignore because it's out of sight—but built-up sediment reduces the heating efficiency of your water heater and costs you money.Tools Required
Materials Required
- 1-1/4-in. x 1-1/2-in. female PVC trap adapter
- 2" brass nipple
- 24-in. piece of 1/2-in. I.D. vinyl tubing
- 3/4-in. MIP x 1/2-in. barb fitting
- 3/4-in. x 3-in. nipple
- Brass ball valve
- Brass elbow
- Dielectric nipple
- Garden hose adapter
- Shop vacuum hose adapter
If you’ve never flushed your hot water heater, or haven’t done it in years, you could be in for a nasty surprise—in the form of sediment build-up. One sign of excessive sediment buildup is a popping or rumbling sound coming from your water heater. That’s the sound of steam bubbles percolating up through the muck. On a gas water heater, the sediment creates hot spots that can damage the tank and cause premature failure. On an electric water heater, sediment buildup can cause the lower heating element to fail. So learning how to drain a water heater and flushing offers a payback in lower energy bills and will extend the life of your hot water heater.
This is what the sediment in your water heater looks like. 
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