I've had mixed luck with flushing older heaters. Had one in a rental property that was pushing 15 years, figured I'd give flushing a shot before replacing it. Surprisingly, it bought me another couple years without issues. But yeah, I've also had the valve leak scenario—definitely frustrating. I'd say if you're comfortable with basic plumbing and the heater isn't ancient, flushing can still be worth a try. Otherwise, replacement might save you headaches down the road.
"I'd say if you're comfortable with basic plumbing and the heater isn't ancient, flushing can still be worth a try."
I get where you're coming from, but honestly, even if you're handy, flushing older heaters feels like rolling dice to me. Did it once on an 11-year-old unit—seemed fine at first, but within weeks the thing sprung leaks everywhere. Ended up costing more in repairs and stress than just swapping it out would have. Sometimes it's better to bite the bullet early rather than gamble on squeezing extra life out of aging equipment...
I get where you're coming from, but honestly, even if you're handy, flushing older heaters feels like rolling dice to me. Did it once on an 11-year-old unit—seemed fine at first, but within wee...
Totally get your hesitation—seen that happen plenty of times myself. Older units can be unpredictable, and sometimes flushing just stirs up trouble. Still, every heater's different...but yeah, sometimes replacing early saves headaches down the road. Good call sharing your experience!
Had a similar experience myself—flushed my 12-year-old heater thinking I'd be proactive, and boy, did I regret it. Water pressure dropped like a rock, and within days I was showering under a sad little trickle. Ended up replacing the whole thing anyway. Lesson learned: sometimes if it ain't broke, don't fix it...or at least be ready for plan B. Glad I'm not the only one who's been there, haha.
"Lesson learned: sometimes if it ain't broke, don't fix it...or at least be ready for plan B."
I get where you're coming from, but I'd argue flushing a heater isn't always the culprit behind pressure drops. Often, sediment buildup inside older pipes or valves can get dislodged during flushing, causing blockages downstream. Did you happen to check your aerators or showerhead screens afterward? Sometimes it's just debris caught there—seen it plenty of times. Replacing the whole heater might've been avoidable, but hindsight's always 20/20...
