Water Heaters · 5 min read
The Annual Water Heater Maintenance Checklist
Water heaters are the appliance homeowners think about least and miss most when they fail. One visit a year meaningfully extends their life.
What the visit should cover
A complete service is about an hour and touches every wear point.
- Full flush to remove sediment
- Anode rod inspection and replacement when depleted
- T&P valve test and discharge line verification
- Thermostat calibration to a safe 120°F
- Burner and venting inspection on gas units
- Descaling and filter cleaning on tankless units
Why sediment shortens tank life
Sediment settles on the tank bottom and insulates the burner from the water. The burner runs longer, energy use climbs, and the overheated steel eventually cracks its glass lining — which is when tanks start to leak.
Signs replacement is near
Rusty hot water, popping or rumbling, moisture at the base, or an age past a decade. Planning a replacement beats discovering the failure on a Saturday morning.