How To Flush and Revive a Neglected Water Heater

[@DavidBate-l8l]

I drain the water heater and dump in a couple of gallons of cleaning vinegar. It has kept my heater going for 20 years.

[@oldfredbear]

What are the odds that cleaner busts the glass liner of the tank?

[@Sparky-ww5re]

I'm assuming there is a list of tank sizes listed on the packaging of the turbo tank cleaner, for maximum effectiveness and compatibility purposes? And what are the symptoms of sediment build-up in the first place, some may ask? Well, in a gas water heater, you will hear rumbling and popping as the burner fires up, because the sediment acts a layer of insulation that allows water to seep through. The bottom of the tank heats to well beyond the boiling point of water causing continuous mini steam explosions for the duration of the heating cycle. This greatly increases energy costs and severely shortens the life of the heater. A symptom of sediment build up in an electric model is a burned out lower heating element

[@JohnCillian]

My water heater doesn't have enough pressure to have both bathrooms in use at the same time. Can this help with it or can you give me an idea what's going on?

[@CantankerousDave]

A metal flail inside a water tank seems like a bad idea. How does it not damage the interior?

[@TopHomeowner]

I thought the same thing. The company says they've never had a complaint about it damaging a water tank after selling over 10,000 units. Also here's a statement from their website: "One common question is if it's okay to use with a glass lined tank. Glass lined tanks are actually a porcelain enamel which is a fusion of powdered glass and metal, created to be durable from physical damage."

[@exportedafrican]

The anode will not play well with the auger…

[@jameskitzmann6268]

If your heater is gas and more then a year old this is a complete waste of time unless you have fine sediment in the water. If you have a electric heater you can do a real good job by removing the lower element and sucking out the sediment with a shop vac. Replacing the anode rod every couple of years will be much more effictive.

[@rickschiaffo618]

If you want to screw up your water tank...have at it