What Are The Benefits Of Flushing Your Water Heater?

Cold showers are the bane of modern life that is certain to happen if the water heater in your home is not regularly inspected and maintained to give max function. Methodical checks every 6 months can definitely lessen the chances of unexpected breakdowns that will make you put up with the discomforts of cold showers and water until a visit from a plumber in Franklin TN. 
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Water Heater Service | Plumbing Franklin, TN

​Modern technologies such as solar units, tankless water heaters, and heat pumps should also get its share of proper maintenance but this time ONLY from the pros. DIY jobs are out on these sophisticated systems. On the other hand, basic steps to maintain conventional water heaters can be a DIY project for skilled homeowners.

Inspect Potential Problems With Your Water Heater

Scouting around the house should be the first thing to do before you touch the water heater. Too hot or too cold water coming from faucets and showers than it used to be are the warning signs of looming trouble in your water heater. This could mean a potential problem in the thermostat or heating element in the unit.


Drips, puddles, and any other signs of leaks should be the first thing to check out for when you come face to face with the unit. Are there signs of rust or cracks on the tank? If there are, a water heater replacement or repair job is needed which is better handled by a professional plumber.

The burner flame’s appearance should also be noted if your unit is a gas water heater. A blue color means efficient function. Replacements or adjustments are options when the color of the flame is either yellow or orange. 

DIY Tips and Guidelines to Safely Maintain Your Water Heater

Inspect the pressure relief valve

The valve takes off the pressure from the tank and a stuck up valve can build pressure leading to an explosion. The water heater manual can direct you to the location of the valve.

Check out first if the drain outlet is clear before manually opening the valve. Hot water spraying out of the drain outlet means everything is good to go. Another reason for the manual opening of the valve is to check whether it can be opened and closed smoothly.

Flushing out the tank

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​Flushing out the tank starts by flicking the water heater’s circuit breaker and turning off the inlet valve of the cold water. Next is to fasten a hose to the outlet of the drain to run the water down either to a floor drain or out the door of the home. Quickly drain out the water from the tank by simultaneously opening the drain and pressure relief valves. This also gets rid of sediments that can cause more harm than good to the water tank.

Close both the pressure relief and drain valves as soon as the tank has emptied all its contents. Next, make sure every hot water faucet or fixture in the house is dry before turning them all on. Then, it’s time to fill the tank by opening the inlet valve for the cold water. As soon as the water starts flowing back to the tank, turn off all hot water faucets and fixtures in the home.

Lastly, click on the circuit breaker of the water heater to initiate heating the cleaned water in the tank.

When it’s too much work - Call a Brentwood Star Plumbing

It’s the right time to call in a professional plumber when you think flushing out your water heater demands too much work and too many steps to watch out for. Hiring a licensed plumber can do all the hard work such as checking for corrosion and rusts, flushing out the tank, and checking the anode rod. 

Periodic maintenance holds the key to a highly functional water heater tank. The best time to start on it is right now if you haven’t done it already. Leave it to the plumbing experts if the work proves too much for you.

Thanks for reading!