The water heater installation is one of those plumbing appliances that we have in our home that we never really think about until a problem arises. As long as it keeps doing its job, giving us plenty of hot water for showers, laundry and dishes, we figure everything is going well. If our energy bills go up, we think it's the gas or electric companies increasing their prices, not our water heater using more and more energy to heat our water.

In fact, your home water heater hardens more wear and tear than almost any other plumbing appliance in the house. "How so?" you ask. That's because it is running all the time. Day and night, the metal inside your water heater tank soaks in a hot water bath that, unless you filter your home's water, is loaded with minerals, sediment and other chemicals that accelerate corrosion of the metal. The chemicals that settle on the inside of your water heater tank in a thick coating of slimy mud and rust reduces the efficiency of your water heater and eats away at the metal until it fails catastrophically on all your hard floors and carpets.

Compared to many other household duties, water heater maintenance is really quite easy, yet a surprising number of people don't know how to do it. By simply flushing the sediment tank once every 6 months, the homeowner can add years of life to their water heater installation apex .

To flush your water heater's hot water tank, you will need:

Eye protection (hot water and/or sand in your eyes is no fun, believe me).

A pair of pliers

Possibly the screwdriver

Hose

You can use a regular garden hose. However, you may want to consider buying a dedicated hose that you can leave attached to your water heater and simply unroll every time you drain it. In addition to saving you the hassle of carrying the hose home every six months, this will also reduce wear and tear on the drain valve threads. Most modern radiators have nylon (plastic) spigots for draining water. If your hose has metal threads, repeatedly taking it on and off will eventually strip the plastic threads and you will be calling a plumber to come replace them long before you need to replace the unit.

Step 1 - Cut the power to the water heater

Go to the electrical service panel. Locate and turn off the breaker for your hot water heater. If you don't, your water heater will continue to run, trying to heat the water as you flush it down the drain. Just don't forget to turn it back on when you're done.

Step 2 - Locate your water heater drain

The water heater drain will be near the bottom of the tank and should look like a garden hose spigot.

Step 3 - Attach the hose to the water heater

Make sure you screw the hose into the drain all the way through. The water coming out will be full of sand and rust and will be under pressure. If the hose is loose, you will have one big mess to clean up, so, if necessary, use pliers to tighten it all the way on the bib. At the same time, don't over tighten or you'll be calling a plumber to replace the drain spigot long before you need a new radiator.

Step 4 - Take the hose out the window

...Or out the door, or in the sink. Just make sure that the water you drain from the radiator doesn't end up creating a mess somewhere else. Remember, you are removing months if not years of sediment and minerals. This is not the type of thing you want in your lawn. This will also be coming out of the hose at full pressure, so make sure you anchor it down and take steps to prevent splashing.

Step 5 - Open the Drain

To open the drain valve on Whirlpool water heaters like this one, you'll need a screwdriver. Other brands may have handles on their valves or require another tool. Open the drain valve slowly until you get full flow.

Step 6 - Let it drain

Depending on how long you waited to flush your system, you may need to let the water heater drain for five to twenty minutes. The water may be brownish and you will see scale flakes, sand and small stones made of mineral deposits. You will know you are ready when the water runs clear. If you run out of time before the water is 100% clear, don't worry. The sediment will settle back to the bottom of the tank and your hot water will be as clean as it was, just come back in a month or two and drain your water heater again.

Step 7 - Close the valve and put away your hose

I don't think this step needs much explanation. Click here