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Time To Give Your Water Heater a Bath?


 Time To Give Your Water Heater a Bath?

Well, maybe not exactly a bath, but when was the last time you cleaned your water heater?

A little attention a couple of times a year can keep your water heater humming along for its expected 15-year life span.

Every few months, drain about a quarter of the water from the tank, or completely drain the tank once a year. Doing so removes any minerals and other sediments that have found their way into the tank, and also enables the unit to run more quietly.

To drain it, turn off the water and connect a garden hose to the drain valve. Run the water into a bucket until the water turns from cloudy to clear.

Be careful—the water will be hot.

It’s also a good idea to give your water heater a bit of breathing room. Move boxes, tools or whatever you store near the water tank at least 2 feet away from it.

Lower the heater’s thermostat to 120 degrees while you’re at it. This reduces the risk of someone in your family getting scalded in the shower.