When I had to have the water heater replaced the plumber suggested that I drain off a gallon of water once a month, every month. This only applies if the unit is brand new. He said that I could either attach a hose and run it outside or use a gallon jug, I use a jug and save it for watering houseplants.

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Originally posted by tatortodd:
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It coughed out some nasty calcerous debris....

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Originally posted by cparktd:
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I have seen hard water debris built up inches deep, over the heating lower element, but that was always hard mineral well water systems....

I work projects, so I live in an RV. My first RV project was in SE New Mexico (Hobbs - tatertodd, that's Permian Basin area, although I'm not oil & gas). After about 2 years, I decided to replace the anode, and when I drained it, I had the funkiest calcerous debris imaginable. I ended up using a length of solid 6AGW copper ground wire to scrape it out. Inside fixtures (sinks and shower) were covered in calcium as well, and required frequent cleaning, often with Line-A-Way.

After that, I made sure to flush the hot water tank at least yearly.

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Originally posted by cparktd:
For most people it simply isn't necessary to drain / flush... unless you have some hard or funky water.

Perhaps this is true for me. I've flushed/drained my heater every few years. It's always been clean to me - I use a hose going to a white bucket outside and I never see any junk, at least not in any amount worth mentioning. It comes out basically clean unless the particles are too small to see w/ the naked eye.

It's 25 years old now and still working fine.

quote:

Originally posted by cparktd:
I have seen hard water debris built up inches deep, over the heating lower element, but that was always hard mineral well water systems.

For most people it simply isn't necessary to drain / flush... unless you have some hard or funky water....


Spent 20+ years in my first career doing residential plumbing and electrical service work. We averaged replacing a water heater once a week. Yes I tracked it because I kept the heater inventory we stocked. That's over 1000 I have personally hands on replaced... (Not including all the new installs for houses my Dad built as a contractor.) Out of that number removed I probably could count on one hand the ones that had used up the anode or had a significant amount of debris in it....

My water comes from a well and it is high in iron. In spite of draining the tank once a year they go bad (start leaking) around 7 years so by year 14-15 I bought my 3rd and this time the best A.O. Smith's electric tank Lowes sold, a Signature 300 which came with a 9 year warranty. Around 7.5 - 8 years later it leaked. I recalled mailing in the warranty card but couldn't recall the warranty length so I called A. O. Smith customer service. They pulled it up in their records and said it was indeed still warranted so just take it back to Lowes for a replacement which is what I did.

As I mentioned in my previous post I was never able to remove the anode after 3 years so tried on this new one to no avail.

In your opinion is the iron in my water causing the problem and if so would somehow replacing the anode extend it's life?

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Originally posted by MikeinNC:
Change the anode while you’re at it. It’s a 1 1/16” socket, loosen it before you drain the tank because they have a gorilla tighten them in the factory. I’ve had to use a 3’ cheater bar to get more than one loose. Also don’t use teflon or pipe dope when putting a new one in-it needs to contact the metal threads to complete the connection to the tank metal

I drain my gas water heater each year, but unfortunately never do the anode rod as I don’t have the space to do it. Mine is installed in my garage in a raised closet and there is not enough clearance between the top of the heater and the ceiling to remove the rod. I would have to cut a whole into the ceiling into my attic to provide the space. I am wondering if I should do it. I have lived in my home for 24 years so far and I am on my third water heater. My area has extremely hard water and I have a water softener.