15 yrs old water heater

[harmony68]

water heater has never been drained. There are cracking sounds from the heater.Due to its age, would it be considered futile to attempt to drain it.

 

[IFIXH20]

The crackling or rumbol sound is excessive sediment build-up in the tank (The sediment is heating up). Yes ,It would be futile to attempt to drain it. The water heater probably would not drain with out removing the boiler drain due to the build up of sediment. At 15 yrs old I would replace it.

 

[Retroloco-LJ]

The average life span of a storage tank heater is 11 years. You're well over that. I would definitely replace it and do so knowing you got the full life span of your current one.