Honestly, I’d rather spend an hour flushing than deal with a cold shower when the in-laws are over... Learned that the hard way.
Yeah, skipping maintenance is tempting, but it’s just not worth it. I tried to stretch mine an extra year once—big mistake. Ended up with lukewarm water and a repair bill that wiped out any “savings.” Flushing the tank isn’t fun, but neither is replacing parts early because of scale buildup. If you’re on a tight budget like me, prevention really is cheaper than repairs.
Flushing the tank isn’t fun, but neither is replacing parts early because of scale buildup.
Man, you’re not kidding. I skipped flushing once because I thought, “how bad could it be?” Turns out, pretty bad—my shower sounded like it was boiling rocks, and the water was more ‘tepid disappointment’ than hot. Is it just me, or does scale multiply overnight if you ignore it? I swear my heater’s got a grudge now…
my shower sounded like it was boiling rocks, and the water was more ‘tepid disappointment’ than hot
Yeah, that’s the classic sign. Scale builds up way faster than you’d think, especially if your water’s hard. I skipped a year once and ended up replacing the heating element. Not worth the hassle.
Honestly, missing a year isn’t the end of the world, but yeah, you’ll feel it. Hard water’s brutal on those systems. Here’s what’s worked for me:
- Flush the tank every 6-8 months (even if you think it’s “clean enough”).
- Vinegar soak for stubborn scale—cheap and surprisingly effective.
- Keep an eye on pressure relief valves and seals while you’re at it.
I learned the hard way too—spent a weekend wrestling with a stuck element. Not fun, but at least now I’m paranoid about maintenance... You’re definitely not alone.
Honestly, skipping a year’s not the worst, but every time I’ve seen someone do it, there’s always some surprise—usually a leaky seal or a pressure valve that’s gotten sticky. Quick tip: always kill the power before poking around. Last thing you want is a zap or scalded hands... trust me, I’ve seen it happen. And yeah, vinegar’s great, but don’t get it on any rubber gaskets or seals—they’ll swell up and make things worse down the line.
