Flush Your Water Heater in West Haven Before Winter

Why West Haven Tanks Take a Beating

A lot of the houses in Allingtown, West Shore and the streets around Savin Rock go back generations, and plenty of those basements have a 40 or 50 gallon tank on the floor next to the boiler that nobody has touched since the day it went in. Years of sediment on the bottom make the burner or element run longer for every shower. That popping or rumbling you hear is water boiling up through the crust.

Five Things to Do This Week

• Listen to it. Run a long hot shower and stand next to the tank. Popping, crackling or a low rumble means sediment has built up on the bottom.
• Check the floor and the fittings. Look for rust stains, a wet drain pan, or white crust on the pipe connections at the top. A small weep at a fitting is a cheap fix in October and a bigger one in February.
• Drain a few gallons off the bottom. Hook a garden hose to the drain valve near the base, run it to a floor drain or outside, and open the valve slowly. Let it run until the water comes out clear, then close it. That water is hot, so keep hands and feet clear of the stream.
• Check the temperature setting. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If your unit has a clearly marked dial you can reach easily, set it there. If getting to it means opening an electrical cover or touching the gas control, leave it for a plumber.
• Clear the area around the tank. Move boxes, laundry and paint cans away from the base, and make sure the pipe off the relief valve on the side runs down toward the floor with nothing blocking it.

Signs You Need a Plumber

• The drain valve is stuck or won't stop dripping. Old plastic drain valves crack after years of sitting. A plumber can swap in a brass one.
• Water is pooling under the tank. A leak from the tank body itself means the tank is done and it's time to plan a replacement.
• Hot water comes out rusty or smells like rotten eggs. That often points to a worn anode rod or a tank rusting from the inside.
• The tank is well over a decade old. Check the date on the label. On an old tank, stirring up years of grit can start a leak, so get it looked at before you flush.
• Anything with the gas burner, pilot or vent. A pilot that keeps going out, scorch marks at the base, or any gas smell is a job for a licensed pro. If you smell gas, get everyone out and call the gas company from outside.

If your heater is rumbling, leaking or running out of hot water early, call us or use the form on this page and we'll get a licensed plumber out to you in West Haven or Orange. Our water heater repair page covers fixes, and if the tank is finished, see water heater installation and our replacement cost guide. Already out of hot water? Start with our no hot water checklist.

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