[bigfishtom@yahoo.com]

Who is doing this service and cost please

How often do you have it done??

[Kenswing]

Originally Posted by bigfishtom@yahoo.com

Who is doing this service and cost please

How often do you have it done??

I would imagine just about any plumber can do it in about an hour. That being said, it is a very easy DIY item. All you need is a small sump pump, a couple of hoses (washer hoses work great) a 5 gallon bucket and a couple gallons of vinegar.

Lots of videos on Youtube showing just how easy it is. I do mine every year to 18 months.

[retiredguy123]

Most people have had a tank type water heater forever, and have never done any maintenance on it. In fact, the Rheem manual on my tank type water heater doesn't even "require" any maintenance. It works fine after 5 years with no maintenance. I suspect that most of the new tankless water heaters being installed in The Villages will not be maintained either, even though the manual does require it annually. Habits are difficult to break.

[Toymeister]

I DIY, annually.

The clean out valves (bi-pass valve) are installed already so clearly anticipated that you will be doing this maintenance.

[bilcon]

My hot water heater is 12 years old and I have never touched it. It is still working fine. Stop worrying so much. Enjoy your retirement.

[Toymeister]

Obviously, and sadly, half the posters here are confusing a tank water heater with a on demand water heater. You will need to flush a tankless to maintain it. You will know it was not maintained when the performance drops such as lower flow rates.

[Joeint]

Originally Posted by bilcon

My hot water heater is 12 years old and I have never touched it. It is still working fine. Stop worrying so much. Enjoy your retirement.

Yep I've driven my 2015 car without doing anything except tires and gas still runs like a top.

[Hape2Bhr]

Originally Posted by bigfishtom@yahoo.com

Who is doing this service and cost please

How often do you have it done??

We had up to six on demand heaters in our laundromats. They do need regular flushing depending on the minerals in your water. I used to connect two and flush them at the same time.

[tammy5912554@gmail.com]

It’s easy to do yourself. I am glad to help you if you like.

[retiredguy123]

Another reason to not replace your tank type water heater with a tankless type. Less maintenance.

[rogerk]

Our tankless needs to be descaled annually. Kiley & Sons Plumbing for about $100.

[jbrown132]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Most people have had a tank type water heater forever, and have never done any maintenance on it. In fact, the Rheem manual on my tank type water heater doesn't even "require" any maintenance. It works fine after 5 years with no maintenance. I suspect that most of the new tankless water heaters being installed in The Villages will not be maintained either, even though the manual does require it annually. Habits are difficult to break.

Yes they are. I had a tankless heater put in a few years ago. They are more costly but if taken care there is no reason they cannot last 20-25 years. It takes a little over an hour a year to do this which most of that time is just sitting and waiting for the vinegar to run through the system. Lots of easy to follow instructions on the internet. You will be surprised at what comes out of the system. In a tank system this is what settles at the base of the tank and rots them out. I guess it’s a personal choice but my tankless system will probably out live me.

[Larchap49]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

I would imagine just about any plumber can do it in about an hour. That being said, it is a very easy DIY item. All you need is a small sump pump, a couple of hoses (washer hoses work great) a 5 gallon bucket and a couple gallons of vinegar.

Lots of videos on Youtube showing just how easy it is. I do mine every year to 18 months.

Under normal conditions recommended yearly. My last home I had hard water and did it once after 10 years with no problems, probably very lucky. In this new home I installed a softener and whole house filter. I have a new pump and the recommended chemicals but not sure if I will ever use it because with softener I get absolutely no lime scale on fixtures like before

[G.R.I.T.S.]

Originally Posted by bigfishtom@yahoo.com

Who is doing this service and cost please

How often do you have it done??

A friend's plumber charged $89. I plan to do my own. Videos are very helpful.

[joelfmi]

As retired NYC Licensed Master plumber you can do it yourself going on U2 they will save money. Calling a Florida lic plumbing company will cost you a charge for their time and service.