When most people think of sediment, it’s an outside kind of thing. As such, no homeowner really expects it to show up at the bottom of the hot water heater. But, it does, and sediment build-up can cause a few different problems to develop with your water heater. One of the best ways to clear your hot water heater of sediment build-up is to schedule it for maintenance annually. The water heater experts at DuAll Heating & Cooling offer professional water heater maintenance services in Bolingbrook, IL – just give us a call and schedule an appointment!
Where Does the Sediment Come From?
What is sediment? It is mainly calcium carbonate that has been leeched from the minerals in your water, and it gathers at the bottom of your hot water tank. All water has minerals in it, even water that has been softened. While softened water has fewer problems with sediment than hard water, the heated water inside the storage tank intensifies the leeching of the minerals, creating an environment that is perfect for sediment build-up.
How Can Sediment Build-Up Affect My Hot Water Heater?
Sediment build-up on the bottom of your hot water tank can have a couple of adverse effects. First, if the build-up is significant enough, it can displace the water in the tank, mixing the cold with the hot and reducing the overall amount of hot water you’ll have. A second issue that can develop with a sediment build-up is that the gas burner will be heating the water through the sediment; this reduces the tank’s ability to effectively heat the water.
Annual Maintenance Helps
One of the tasks performed during an annual maintenance appointment for your hot water heater is a full flushing of the tank. This clears out any sediment that may be sitting at the bottom.
