“self-cleaning” is mostly marketing. Every tank I’ve seen gets buildup over time, especially if your water’s even a little hard.
That’s been my experience too. I’ve opened up tanks labeled “self-cleaning” and found just as much gunk as any regular model. Had one job where the homeowner swore the tank was maintenance-free—until it started making noises like a bag of microwave popcorn. Flushed out a couple buckets of sediment. If you’re hearing those pops, it’s definitely time for a flush, regardless of what the sticker claims.
I’ve had tenants call me up about that popcorn sound more times than I can count. Usually it’s just sediment cooking on the bottom of the tank, like others have said. Even those “self-cleaning” models don’t seem to do much if you’ve got hard water—marketing hype, in my opinion. I try to flush my units once a year, but sometimes life gets in the way and you end up with a tank full of crunchy bits. If you’re hearing popping, it’s probably overdue for a good flush.
Even those “self-cleaning” models don’t seem to do much if you’ve got hard water—marketing hype, in my opinion.
Interesting point about the self-cleaning models. Has anyone actually seen a difference after switching to one? Also, do you think using a water softener upstream would make the popping less likely, or is that just wishful thinking?
I get where you’re coming from about the marketing hype—those self-cleaning models never seemed to make a dent for me either, especially with our mineral-heavy water. I did try adding a water softener a few years back, and honestly, it helped a bit with the popping sounds. The sediment buildup slowed down, but it didn’t vanish entirely. I’d say it’s not wishful thinking, but don’t expect miracles. Regular flushing still seems necessary if you want to keep things quiet.
Yeah, I’ve seen the same thing—those “self-cleaning” tanks are more marketing than magic, especially in older buildings. I’ve had tenants swear the noise was ghosts until I showed them the sediment. Water softeners help a bit, but you’re right, nothing beats a good flush every now and then. It’s just part of the routine at this point.