5 DIY Steps to Improve Your Water Quality, Today!

Water Quality Issues? Flush Your Water Heater

During the winter months, is taking a rejuvenating warm shower your favorite way to start the day? The radiant warmth of hot water can help make facing those cold Kentucky winter mornings a little more bearable. Because we want you to have the best hot water possible, the Pros have some tips about flushing your water heater and how it can help improve the quality of those hot morning showers.

What’s Lurking in Your Water?

Kentucky’s water runs through a great deal of limestone, which can lead to a sediment buildup in your water heater. The more sediment that settles in the unit, the harder it has to work to keep your water warm. Your water quality level can also be affected by accumulating sediment in the water heater. Excess sediment can cause poor water circulation, which can lead to stagnated water residing in your water heater. This grimy sediment negatively affects the quality of the water you and your family are ingesting, showering in, and using for various tasks in/around your home. Fortunately, consistent water heater flushing can help keep these issues to a minimum.

Flushing Your Water Heater

Are you an avid DIY’er? We have provided a comprehensive how-to list on water heater flushing, presented in a step-by-step format that you can perform yourself. If, after going through the How-to-Flush instructions you still find it too much to tackle, we are happy to help –give us a call at 859.278.0063 and Turbo Plumbing Pros will be at your home in two hours or less!

1. Flip Circuit Breaker/Adjust Thermostat to Pilot
   • If you have an electric water heater, you’ll need to flip the circuit breaker to cut power to the unit
   • If you have a gas-powered unit, the thermostat needs to be set to “Pilot” before you begin flushing the tank
2. Turn Off Cold Water Supply
   • Turn the shutoff valve clockwise
   • With gas or propane tanks, make sure the thermostat is either on its lowest setting or set to “Pilot”
3. Turn On Hot Water Faucet in Sink/Tub
   • We don’t want a vacuum forming during the flushing process
4. Attach Garden Hose to Water Heater Drain Valve
   • If you don’t have a hose available, you can drain the water heater directly from the valve. Just make sure you have a place to put the water as it drains out.
5. Open Drain Valve
   • Once the water starts flowing out, you can check it to see how much sediment is actually in there. If you want to be sure the first flush cleaned the unit to your satisfaction, you can close the drain, open the cold water valve to allow more water in the tank, and reopen the drain to repeat the process until the water clarity is to your satisfaction.

After these steps are completed, close the drain, turn off the faucet being used to prevent the vacuum, turn on the cold water supply, turn the circuit back on/remove the thermostat from the pilot set to the desired temperature. As far as the frequency when it comes to water heater tank flushing, a good rule of thumb would be about once a year, especially with Kentucky’s heavy limestone deposits. If you have a strong home filtration unit setup, the frequency will decrease. Let the quality of your hot water be your guide, as well.

The Pros Are Here To Help!

If any of this seems too time-consuming to add to your already lengthy list of DIY projects, call the quickest plumbing team in Lexington- Turbo Plumbing Pros! Our Rapid Response team will be at your door in 2 hours or less to remedy your situation. Lastly, if you want the no muss, no fuss experience, ask our specialist about our incredible Rinnai tankless water heaters. Contaminant-free, endless hot water will positively change your experience of water heaters for your home forever. Call Turbo Plumbing Pros today at 859-278-0063!