Have you seen some alarming signs of your heater to lead you to have the question, “Is it too late to drain my water heater?” Many homeowners don’t know about the proper drainage of the water heater, leading to them not properly caring for it.
In general, most typical families would use around 400 gallons per day, making the heater crucial to own and operate. Just like other stuff, you want to properly maintain and care for your heater. Fail to do so, and you are risking your family.
Is It too Late to Drain My Water Heater?
According to many experts, the sediment itself isn’t dangerous for you or the people using the heater. However, the sediment can jeopardize the performance and condition of the device. The heater has to deal with a lot of water volume on a daily basis, and it can run for years without proper care or maintenance.
Even with good quality and softened water, the water still has its own sediment and mineral. If you are dealing with hard water, imagine how hard your heater needs to work.
Is Sediment in Hot Water Tank Dangerous?
When the water is kept within the tank, the minerals and sediment would fall to the bottom area and build-up will happen. When years pass by without proper cleaning or draining, these sediment collections can lead to other issues, such as:
- Higher utility bills because your heater has to work extra hard
- Problems and difficulty in heating up the water
- Less supply of hot water
- Popping noises (the trapped air within the sediment will cause it)
- Tank corrosion which can lead to small and big leaks
Pros and Cons of Draining Water Heater
The draining will make sure that your heater stays in its top-notch performance. You can also make sure that you keep your family safe and sound. Some of the benefits of draining your water heater are:
- You make sure that the heater will stay on its best performance and it will stay running well for many years to come
- You remove the possibility of dangerous pressure buildup which can endanger yourself and your family
- You ensure that sediment buildup can be prevented and avoided, resulting in cleaner and healthier water quality
However, you should also know that draining the heater on your own has its own downsides. It’s advisable that you consult a professional service with drainage. Doing it yourself may be risky. You may do it wrong or you may cause another problem that didn’t exist before.
That’s why you should reach out and contact a pro and hire them to do the work. Otherwise, you may end up spending more because you are so adamant about doing it on your own.
Cost to Drain Water Heater
How often should you drain your heater? Do it once a year, minimum. You should put it into a regular maintenance schedule so you can avoid issues. You should also prepare the budgets. In general, the cost may vary from $80 to $100.
However, it depends on your area as well as the heater type. Let’s not forget that if the plumber finds other issues, your spending may increase.
The tankless heater may cost more than the regular conventional heater. Although a lot of people say that you don’t need to drain it, you should talk to your plumber.
They would be the ones that can recommend it. In most cases, you will have to drain the heater quite regularly. This kind of heater will require you to spend more, between $100 and $200. In the event your plumber finds more issues, be ready to spend more. So, before you spot any signs of issues, be sure to schedule the drainage and flushing.
