If you want to extend the life of your water heater, the key is proper upkeep. Depending on the tank size, you should be draining and flushing it at least once or twice a year.

Begin by shutting off the appliance and turning off the cold water supply. Wait a few hours before you start the draining process so you don’t burn yourself with hot water.

To drain the water heater, attach a standard garden hose to the heater’s drain valve. Turn on a hot water faucet in the house to allow the heater to drain more quickly.

Open the drain valve and let all the water drain out, and once it’s empty, flush the tank. To do so, turn the cold water on and allow the new water to drain through the hose.

Once the water is clear, the flushing process is done. Turn the water supply off, remove the hose, and turn off the heater’s drain valve.

Turn the water supply on again and allow the water heater to refill. When the water flows normally, turn off the tap and turn the heater back on.

Failing to drain and flush your water heater on a routine basis can cause your water heater to malfunction and potentially clog up due to sediment, debris, and material buildup.

Removing the buildup at the bottom allows water to heat up faster, and by clearing the tank, you’re making your water heater more energy efficient and saving on utility bills, too.

Routine maintenance allows you to gauge how healthy your water heater is and keeps the parts working optimally, which means fewer service calls and more money saved.