Have you cleaned/flushed your water heater lately?

[Newt]

We installed a single lever faucet in the kitchen.  There has been a frequent problem with reduced flow.  Take out the strainer on the end.  A little better, then right back to low flow.  Keep finding this little "stuff" in  the strainer.  Finally take the hoses off.  This is one with the pull out nozzle.  Where the pull out hose fastens to the tube from the valves is this little gizmo full of "stuff".

We are hooked up at the house.  We have a whole house sediment filter going into a Culligan water softener.  We have a RV Water Filter Store sediment filter and charcoal filter going into the trailer  Where is all this "stuff" coming from.

Ah, we've had this trailer ~6 months, never checked the water heater.  A while back, bought one of those water heater cleaning/flushing wands, might be time to try this out.  :)

You wouldn't believe all the "stuff" that came out of the water heater.

Have you cleaned/flushed your water heater lately?

Newt

 

[xtravel1979]

Newt,
  I do that cleaning of the water heater the same way you described, 2 times a season. Like you said, you will not believe the calcium that come out, especially if you have the type cleaner to scrape the sides. Our heaters work more efficient when cleaned, I have been told by a good source.Bottom line, you are doing a good maintenance gesture cleaning the inside of the heater.........Travel

[EdJ]

It is amazing how fast the calcium/lime builds up in the water heater.  Of course, it depends a lot on the water source.  I generally flush it out a minimum of once a year.  Need to do that to check the anode condition as well.

[sparky]

Cleaned out our stix and brix 52 gallon electric water heater last week.  I opened the drain valve and it would only drip.  I ended up pulling out the lower heater element (got a good soaking in the process) and I discovered about 5 inches of white sludge in the bottom.  Took a good deal of flushing through the lower heater element port to get the tank cleaned out. This left quite a bit of water in the insulation around the lower part of the tank so after getting after putting the element back in, I left the top and bottom access doors off and aimed a portable fan at the bottom port and fired up the heater.  Went back into the house (the tank is in the garage).  About an hour later, I went back into the garage and discovered very hot water flowing out of the pressure/temperature relief valve.  Turns out that was my fault, the fan blowing into the lower access door kept the lower thermostat cool and it would not shut off.  Finally got it all back together.

[Nolan]

Yes, do it every six months.  Got that little water wand Camping World sells and use that.  Have the same Anode rod in five years now.  Looking pretty rough, but still isn't 3/4 gone.  Not even 1/2 gone yet. 

[huuligan]

When you faucets start clogging like Newt's, it's time to flush the water heater!! That is a good reminder to do it.

Gary

[HaroldG]

Newt,
I used a wand to clean out my water heater too, Did too good of a job I guess. The kitchen faucet started plugging up, I would clean the white flakes from the water lines and a week later they plugged up again (many times). Was even getting the flakes on the cold side, couldn't figure that out. So now I just drain and stir up a little bit.
Harold

[HHDreamer]

I have one of those wands from Camping world and I usually do it after every camping trip...   

Wes