I Don't Understand How Flushing Sediment Can Work?

[CluessHomeowner23]

I have a very hard water and hot water tank that is filled with sediment. It's very loud whenever it heats the water (sounds like small bombs). I've followed the instructions on the web to drain and flush it and while a few specs of rock-like gunk came out....when I fire it all back up....it is as bad as it ever was.

Can someone help me understand how this is supposed to work?

This rock like stuff doesn't float. It's heavier than water, right? So how would filling up the tank with some cold water and opening the valve get them out?

 

[voletl]

flushing a water heater only works when you do it consistently every year when you let it build up to your situation it does absolutely nothing

 

[CluessHomeowner23]

flushing a water heater only works when you do it consistently every year when you let it build up to your situation it does absolutely nothing

Thank you voletl!

That certainly matches what I'm seeing. I don't know when the hot water tank was installed, and it wasn't something we caught during the home inspection (we turned on the hot water, it was hot, we figured it was all good - but we didn't use enough hot water to hear the loud 'rumbling' noises it makes).

Can you tell me, is there anything else I can do that would save me the cost of a new water heater?

 

[voletl]

There are other methods to flush like taking a garden hose and running water into the tank from the drain but even that I've seen ehhhh results

 

[CT18]

Drain the tank. Then open the cold supply back up and see if it will stir up what is sitting on the bottom below the center of the drain line.

 

[ExtraMilePlumbing]

Also make sure its not a condensation sound(vent contensation driping on burner makes loud banging sound)also corroted or mismoved flue baffle intank makes noise

 

[frodo]

All good suggestions above

This is my method.
drain the water heater, remove the plastic drain valve and throw away

while you have the plastic valve removed
take a 3'8'' pipe or rod stick in the hole
and vigorously scrap the bottom / sides of tank

replace with a 3/4 x 4 '' brass nipple and a 3/4'' brass ball valve with hose connection



After replacing the valve, and rodding the sediment
fill the tank with water and then empty the tank completely
remove nipple, re rod tank
flush
you should see lots of stuff draining out the hose

 

[chiraldude]

I remember some manufacturers used to sell water heaters with a mechanism inside where the water inlet would rotate and supposedly stir up the sediment to keep it from building up.
Was that a gimmick that never worked? Does anyone still make them?

 

[frodo]

never heard of it

 

[MASTRPLUMB]

Check "STATE" Water Heaters, and "BRADFORD WHITE" Hydrojet

 

[Mikey]

When I replaced a WH in a previous home, I cut it open just to see what was inside. I wish I had taken pictures, but that was in pre-cellphone days. Anyway, there was a solid buildup of rusty cement-like silt about 18" deep, which encased the lower element (bad!). I've been pretty careful to drain subsequent WHs at least annually. I don't drain them to empty, but I leave the incoming water on (to maintain pressure), fully open the ball valve on the drain (see Frodo's post #7 above) and drain a gallon or so at a time into a white bucket to see what I've got. When the bucket stays clean, I'm done. On well water, it took a few shots, even when I upped the schedule to twice a year. On city water now, I haven't had to drain more than a couple gallons a year to come up clean.

 

[frodo]

Water heaters never die, they just change occupations