I do flush it every few months just in case. The seals seem decent, but I’d be nervous if I lived somewhere with really harsh winters or mineral-heavy water.
Good call on the flushing—keeps things running way smoother. Those vacuum tube kits are usually solid if you stay on top of maintenance. Seen a few seals go bad in hard water areas, but regular checks like you’re doing really help. Don’t stress too much unless your winters get brutal or the water’s super rough.
I get the logic behind not stressing unless you’ve got extreme winters or super hard water, but honestly, I wouldn’t downplay the maintenance side even in milder spots. My place doesn’t have crazy cold snaps or anything, but after a year with a vacuum tube kit, I noticed some gunk building up way faster than I expected. Didn’t think much of it until the pressure dropped and the water started smelling off.
Here’s what worked for me:
1. Monthly quick flushes instead of every few months—takes like 10 minutes tops.
2. Swapped out the stock seals for silicone ones rated for higher temps and mineral resistance (found them online, not expensive).
3. Added a cheap inline filter before the tank to catch bigger stuff.
Might sound like overkill, but it saved me from a mid-winter breakdown last year. Even if your water isn’t “super rough,” small stuff adds up over time... just my two cents from messing around with these kits as a newbie.