Quote:
Originally Posted by Velvet
The water was not getting as hot as before. I have heard popping previously when the tank was heating. I was told it was deposits. The water temperature is the same as it was before so the flushing made no difference.
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If flushing the tank did nothing, I expect it has been in service for years without having been flushed. If so, you have a deposit at the bottom of the tank that is like rock, which first has to be heated before it, in turn, heats the water.
Do you have a build-up of white deposits on your faucets? your shower head?. If so, the same thing is happening inside your water heater.
The solution to these problems is water softener and a canister water filter. There is a business which regularly advertises in the Daily Sun that sells and installs a softener and filter set. Everyone that has used them seems satisfied. My only objection is that they add a 3rd filter for heavy metals, which is not needed. The two filters you should have are one for chlorine and another for sediment. One word of advice--if you will be changing the filters yourself, have the smaller (10") filters installed as they are much easier to change than the large (20") filters. The smaller filters work just a well as the larger ones; however, you will have to change them more often, perhaps every 6 months vs 12 months.
A water softener is one of the best expenditures a homeowner can make. It will prevent "build-up" in your pipes, faucets, and water heater. In existing houses, a softener will, over time, reduce the existing deposits. The best part about a softener is that your laundry will be cleaner, there will be no soap scum in your shower or bathtub, and your hair and skin will both be cleaner and softer. Without a softener, the same soap scum that collects in your shower and bathtub will also be in your hair and on your skin.
Unless you are a skilled DIY'er, you'll need a plumber. If you don't use the company that advertises in the paper, Home Depot or Lowe's will provide one and guarantee their work.