Clean-sediment-out-of-water-heater

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is a self-help website

2011

Clean sediment out of water heater

Sediment caused by untreated hard water.

Flushing water heater each six months prevents sediment (scroll down to see how to flush water heater)

Water softener prevents sediment, but costs money
Water softener also shortens life of tank Read anode options
Find age of water heater/ pdf

Conclusion: Gas water heater efficiency is vulnerable to sediment
Gas water heater is not fully repairable
Water heater makes rumbling sounds when sediment builds up.

Tank is clean. Thermostat reads correct temperature, heat transfer surface and heat exchanger maximize efficiency at 69%

Sediment builds up, depending on hardness of water and other factors. Efficiency drops as heat transfer surfaces covered with sediment. What if water won't drain?

When drain valve is removed, opening is just 3/4" Sediment cannot be completely removed. Efficiency falls as new sediment is added over old.
Flush water heater each 6 months to prevent.

Plastic drain valve breaks off or drain valve is leaking?
Rusty water - Odor in water heater tank

Remove gas control valve to access 1" diameter opening into gas water heater.

How to replace gas control
Replace gas control

Conclusion: Electric water heater efficiency is less vulnerable to sediment than gas heater
Electric water heater is fully repairable
Water heater makes rumbling sounds when sediment builds up.

New electric water heater operates at 99% efficiency
'Efficiency' is not same as 'energy saving ' read more

Burned out lower element means less hot water. Upper element keeps top of tank warm. Opening is 1-1/8" so several pipe and hose sizes fit inside tank. See more detail

Full efficiency is restored to electric water heater after sediment is cleaned out and new lower element installed

Larger image

AO Smith pdf about de-scaling
Read pdf

This process will not remove sediment that has formed into solid.
If water heater is rumbling and popping, then sediment has formed into solid.

The chemical cannot be used on galvanized tank. Most water heaters are steel.
Chemical cannot come into contact with anode rod. Must wear gloves and mask.

Wait until tank is completely full of water before turning on circuit breaker.
Wait to turn on circuit breaker

Use borescope to peer inside tank.

Make your own tool
Put flashlight bulb on end of wire using minature bayonet lampholder
Solder wires onto LED bulb

How to flush water heater & Prevent sediment

Flush every 6 months to prevent sediment from building up

Flush each 6 months to prevent build-up

Steps for flushing GAS water heater
- Turn off water at shut off
- Turn gas control to pilot
-pilot stays lit but no burner flame
There are two ways to proceed: Best if you do #1 followed by #2
1) - Open water heater drain at bottom of tank
-Water pressure flushes water heater, but can stir up material in bottom of tank that will not drain
What if water heater is clogged?
- Continue flushing tank until water runs clean

2) -Turn off water at shut off
- Open bathtub spigot to let air enter water heater
- Open water heater drain
- Drain water from tank

- After tank is drained, turn on water at shut off
- Continue flushing tank until water runs clean

- Close tank drain
- Refill tank
- When water comes out bathtub spigot, tank is full
- Turn off bathtub spigot
- Reset pilot control
- Flushing does not work if sediment builds up

Steps for flushing ELECTRIC water heater
- Turn off water at shut off
- Turn off circuit breaker
- Elements that still have power will burn out when water leaves tank
There are two ways to proceed: Best if you do #1 followed by #2
1) - Open water heater drain at bottom of tank
-Water pressure flushes water heater, but can stir up material in bottom of tank that will not drain
What if water heater is clogged?
- Continue flushing tank until water runs clean

2) -Turn off water at shut off
- Open bathtub spigot to let air enter water heater
- Open water heater drain
- Drain water from tank

- After tank is drained, turn on water at shut off
- Continue flushing tank until water runs clean

- Close tank drain
- Refill tank
- When water comes out tub spigot, tank is full
- Shut tub spigot
- Turn on circuit breaker
-Do NOT turn on circuit breaker before tank is full, or elements will burn out

	Replace water heater drain valve with full-flow valve or ball valve for easy flushing Insert flush tool through ball valve Full flow valve will let water heater drain easily without clogging. 3/4" IP (pipe thread) screws into water heater. Garden hose thread on other end. Buy ball valve Also install curved dip tube to help prevent sediment from settling on bottom of tank How to replace drain valve
	Flush tool/ Flush kit 36" aluminum tube connects to garden hose. Remove drain valve to insert tool -or- install full-flow ball valve shown above Tube inserts through ball valve opening. Make this tool using 3/8" flexible copper pipe
Water softener shortens life of tank Read anode options http://waterheatertimer.org/images/2x4-47f-100.jpg

Additional links

Water heater will not drain

How to remove water heater from attic

Remove rusted/stuck element

Install electric meter on water heater

Flooded water heater

Leaking water heater

How to install gas water heater

240 V Intermatic water heater timer

9-ways to save with water heater

Do it yourself water heater

Troubleshoot gas water heater

Compare all water heater timers

Electricity from pole to breaker box

Contactors

Low water pressure

How to wire off-peak water heater

Compare box timers

See basic water heater circuit

How to Install subpanel

Stacking

Dayton off-delay timer

How to replace anode rod

How to de-lime tankless

How electric water heater works

Troubleshoot electric water heater

Troubleshoot Rheem tankless
Troubleshoot Bosch tankless

How to install tank-type gas water heater

Technical information

Water heater efficiency:
Electric water heaters operate at 99% efficiency
Gas water heaters operate at 69% efficiency
Tankless gas heaters operate at 80% efficiency
High-efficiency tank-type gas heaters at 96% efficiency

'Efficiency' is not same as 'energy saving' .
All costs are energy: Consider total cost of water heater: Cost of unit, cost of installation, projected repairs, whether repairs are do-it-yourself, if parts are generic and available locally, true life expectancy of unit, monthly energy bill over life of unit, and disposal-replacement cost > read more
Other factor will weigh eventually including direct carbon emissions released at each home from gas appliances.
All costs are energy: If there was a breakthrough water heater that suddenly lowered people's bills, and reduced overall energy consumption, people would be waving their monthly bill in the air and everybody would know. There is no news. Choose lowest overall cost water heater to save energy.
Research pdf: water-softener/water-heater efficiency comparison
Read do-it-yourself: 9 ways to save with a water heater

Effect of hard-water WITH water-softener
Efficiency of gas and electric water heaters is unchanged over time when hard water is softened, however softened water corrodes anode rod and will reduce life of water heater unless anode rod inspected and replaced every 2 years. Once anode rod is 50-75% corroded, water heater tank begins to rust. This condition leads to leaking water heater which cannot be repaired. Rusted water heaters can rupture and cause massive damage as water runs until problem is discovered.
Read more & See Anode rod options

Effect of hard-water with NO water-softener:
> Efficiency of gas heater drops 6-8% after two years > cleaning tank of sediment build-up will not restore full efficiency > however, regular flushing to prevent sediment maintains efficiency
> Tankless gas heater will fail when pressure sensor clogs with sediment within 2-3 years depending on hardness of water > regular de-liming will not restore efficiency > softener and filter are required
> Efficiency of electric heater stays at 99% until sediment reaches bottom element > cleaning tank and replacing lower element restores full efficiency > regular flushing to prevent sediment build-up also maintains efficiency
Research pdf: water-softener/water-heater efficiency comparison

Water-softener reduces life of anode rod in gas and electric water heaters
Water heater manual says: "Artificially softened water is exceedingly corrosive because the process substitutes sodium ions for magnesium and calcium ions. The use of water softener may decrease life of water heater tank."
Six-year tanks come with 1 anode rod. Read manual.
Generally, tanks with longer warranties come with 2 anode rods.
Anode rod options

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