Water heaters - how often do you flush/drain?

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I have a 20+yo water heater

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I'd just buy a new one dude, that thing has got to be close to leaking, etc on you.


But to answer your question.

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If neither you nor a professional have flushed your water within the last five years, Water Heaters Now recommends not flushing it yourself. If you flush a water heater that already has a significant sediment buildup, it can actually cause more problems. Excessive or large sediment pieces can get stuck in the tank drain valve, or end up exiting the water heater and going through the pipes in your home – and neither of those is an easy fix. Often, if the water heater hasn’t been flushed in a long time then a replacement is necessary if there is no other maintenance solution.

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I asked my plumber about this and he told me that the manufacturer recommends every couple of years (maybe it was yearly, I dont remember). But he didn't really say if that's what he personally does. 99% of people don't flush theirs and they do just fine. It would probably be easier to have a professional come out and do it.

I flush it more often now considering the last water heater we had didn't last five years before it started leaking, and it was not a cheap one.

I flush it every six(ish) months. The one we have now is an overcomplicated, bluetooth, leak detecting, phone controlled, likely piece of shite in the long run. We had to replace ours right smack dab in the middle of the Covid supply chain BS. We couldn't find a basic, normal model anywhere that wouldn't take days or a week or two to get. So, I get to see how a water heater that looks like it can launch a nuclear warhead fairs. We shall see.

Had an electric 40 gallon low boy in my attic for 36 years before I changed the entire heater to another one just like it. Never once drained or flushed it out. I did change a burned out element a few times as needed but that was a small task any do it yourselfer could do.