Water Heater Sediment, What Is It and What Should You Do About It?
The sediment in the bottom of your water heater is any solid material that settles to the bottom; it can be sand or other
debris from your well or the water mains, or it can be minerals, (calcium carbonate), that precipitate out of the water at higher temperatures.
In the case of water mains, the water company may
periodically clear sediment from their mains by opening up a fire
hydrant full blast for a while. If you happen to use your water while
the sediment is flowing past your house you get to share in the bounty.
Is sediment buildup harmful?
The amount of sediment that builds up in your water
heater will depend heavily on where you are located. If your city water
supply is filtered, and you water is naturally soft with little mineral
content, then you may have none or very little sediment. In other areas
you may have a large buildup of sediment.
A small amount of sediment at the bottom of your
water heater is not serious. Only if you have a large buildup does it
have a significant impact. A deep layer of sediment displaces water and
reduces the amount of hot water available for your use. It can also clog
the drain valve and possibly affect the efficiency of the water heater.
In addition, water heater sediment can slow the heat transfer
and overheat the bottom of the tank. Overheating can weaken the steel
and damage the lining of the tank. With electric water heaters, if the
sediment covers the bottom heating element, the element can overheat and
burn out. If it gets into hot water circulating systems it can cause
problems with the pump and valves.
Popping and other noises 
Sediment can cause noises like popping and other strange sounds as water between the tank bottom and the layer of
sediment turns to steam bubbles.
Occasionally you hear that it is bad to drink water
from the water heater. There is no basis for such a conclusion.
Heating water with your water heater is no different than heading water
in your tea pot. If drinking water from the water heater was dangerous
you would hear about it from the NSF, FDA, EPA, AMA, CDC, or someone in
a position of authority.
The only difference between the water coming out of
your tank and the water going in is that the water coming out is hotter
and might have fewer minerals if they precipitated out of the water and
formed sediment.
How frequently you might need to flush your water
heater sediment depends on how much debris accumulates. It could be none or you may
need to do it once a year. If you have a real problem
with sediment, and
it’s due to debris coming from a water main or well, then installing a
whole house filtration system can reduce the sediment accumulation and
extend the life of your plumbing fixtures and appliances.
Curved Dip Tubes
Some claim that by using a curved dip tube will
help stir up the sediment and reduce the accumulation and make it easier
to flush. Some say that is not true. I do not know.
Original equipment drain valves are easily plugged
with debris from the sediment and if you are in a position where you
will need to drain your heater frequently then it would probably be
smart to replace the valve with a full-bore brass ball valve and install
a hose adaptor on it for quick easy draining or flushing.
Now you are a water heater sediment expert!
Chilipepper Sales 1380 Greg St., # 221 Sparks Nevada, 89431
PH (775)-359-1223 |
