DIY: Electric Water Heater Maintenance

This video shows you how to empty sediment buildup that accumulates an the bottom of the tank. I initially did this because the hot water was only lasting a few minutes while showering. It turns out that sediment had built up above the lower heating element causing it to fail. I've discovered that for my house, I need to do this about every 2-3 years but that will very for you depending on the mineral content of the water in your area.

Thank you to those of you who have been leaving comments. Here is what I would have added/done differently in the video based, in part, on what you have posted:

1. Fill the tank and check for leaks prior to reattaching the electrical and panels.

2. Completely fill the tank before turn the power back on.

3. Some sink faucets of filters below the counter that may become clogged with sediment after doing work on the water heater. If one or more of your faucets stops working after doing this work and you have already checked the pressure regulators like I show at the end ofvthe video then this may be the case. You will need to find the documentation from your faucets manufacturer to fix this problem as each manufacturer can vary.
My thoughts on replacing the heating elements each time:

Although it is very practical to do so, it is, in my experience, unnecessary. I've been reusing those same heating elements for almost a decade now and they are still performing fine. Yes they are inexpensive but I personally don't feel the need to send them to a landfill unnecessarily each time I open my water heater but if you prefer the safety of mind of using a new one eCh time then don't let me stop you from doing it the way you prefer. Just make sure that you are checking those o-rings if you do decide to reuse them and you may decide to only replace those alone instead of the whole component.

Видео DIY: Electric Water Heater Maintenance канала SoCalRockClimber