How many times do you flush your hot water heater?

You should flush your hot water heater at least once a year, and in areas with hard water, you should flush it twice a year, or every six months. Flushing is essential maintenance that prevents sediment buildup at the bottom of the tank. Over time, minerals like calcium and magnesium from your water supply settle and form a layer of sediment that acts like insulation between the burner or heating element and the water. This makes your heater work harder, use more energy, heat more slowly, make rumbling or popping noises, and eventually fail prematurely or develop leaks. To flush it, you turn off the power or gas, shut the cold water inlet, attach a garden hose to the drain valve, run it to a safe drain, open the valve, and let the tank drain completely, then briefly turn the cold water back on to stir up remaining sediment. For tankless or instant heaters like Stiebel Eltron models, flushing or descaling is also recommended annually using a vinegar solution and a pump to remove scale from the heat exchanger. Annual flushing can extend the life of your heater by several years and maintain its efficiency and warranty coverage.