Quote:
Originally Posted by New Englander
Well, the tank I replaced yesterday was never drained and was not leaking Yet. The anode rod was original. Twelve years on a basic water heater is pretty darn good. The new tank is about the same as the original. The plumber did an excellent job as well. Nice and neat work and took the old tank away.
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Most people, including me, never do any maintenance on their water heater. Some people believe in draining the tank every year, and replacing the anode after 5 years or so. But, the manufacturers of these water heaters do not recommend this type of maintenance. I don't think that draining water through a tiny valve will remove enough sediment to do any good, and could actually cause the valve to leak, which would require replacing the valve. Replacing the valve could even cause damage to the tank. Most of the sediment will be caked onto the bottom of the tank and it will not drain out. Personally, I think it is a waste of time and money to try to extend the life of a relatively inexpensive appliance like a water heater. This is my opinion, but can make your own decision.