Is it really worth the hassle to drain the water heater once a year to
remove sedement? 40gal nat gas. It hasn't been done for at least 2
yrs.

Ashton Crusher wrote:
On Sat, 08 Sep 2007 21:51:29 -0700, wrote:


Is it really worth the hassle to drain the water heater once a year to
remove sedement? 40gal nat gas. It hasn't been done for at least 2
yrs.


Yes if it's building up sediment because the buildup chokes off the
water around the lower heating element and then the element burns out.
Mines done that twice. However, I read that if you run them at a
lower temp they don't get nearly as much scale so after the last time
I turned the temp down and then have not drained it in a couple years
and it's not burned out again (yet).
Hmmm,
NG heater has element? If your water is hard, yes.

On Sep 9, 1:47?am, Tony Hwang wrote:
Ashton Crusher wrote:
On Sat, 08 Sep 2007 21:51:29 -0700, wrote:

Is it really worth the hassle to drain the water heater once a year to
remove sedement? 40gal nat gas. It hasn't been done for at least 2
yrs.

Yes if it's building up sediment because the buildup chokes off the
water around the lower heating element and then the element burns out.
Mines done that twice. However, I read that if you run them at a
lower temp they don't get nearly as much scale so after the last time
I turned the temp down and then have not drained it in a couple years
and it's not burned out again (yet).

Hmmm,
NG heater has element? If your water is hard, yes.

if you opt to drain be ready for a drain valve leak espically if the
tank has a plastic valve. non ball valves often clog so you cant get
sediment out.

My tank gets drained once at its end of life, on its way to curb.
tanks are pretty cheap and not worth the hassles of messing with

"Ashton Crusher" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 09 Sep 2007 05:47:11 GMT, Tony Hwang wrote:

Ashton Crusher wrote:
On Sat, 08 Sep 2007 21:51:29 -0700, wrote:


Is it really worth the hassle to drain the water heater once a year to
remove sedement? 40gal nat gas. It hasn't been done for at least 2
yrs.


Yes if it's building up sediment because the buildup chokes off the
water around the lower heating element and then the element burns out.
Mines done that twice. However, I read that if you run them at a
lower temp they don't get nearly as much scale so after the last time
I turned the temp down and then have not drained it in a couple years
and it's not burned out again (yet).
Hmmm,
NG heater has element? If your water is hard, yes.


Missed that part. I've never bothered draining a gas heater and have
had them last 20+ years in the same town where electric ones will burn
up an element in as little as two years.

Anyone have any luck getting the crap out of the bottom? How?

Al