How Much Does It Cost to Service a Water Heater?

At True Grit Plumbing, a water heater flush costs $149. It's the most common service a tank water heater needs, and most need it once a year.

A water heater doesn't ask for much. But the little it asks for matters. Skip it, and the tank fills with sediment, works harder, and wears out years early. Here's what a service includes, what it costs, how often you need it, and when it's worth paying a plumber instead of doing it yourself.

What Does Servicing a Water Heater Include?

"Servicing" a water heater mostly means one thing: flushing the tank. Over time, minerals in your water settle to the bottom as sediment. That layer makes the heater work harder, makes popping and rumbling noises, and eats away at the tank from the inside. A flush drains that sediment out.

A good service also covers a few quick safety and health checks. Water heater maker A.O. Smith recommends checking these every year:

• The safety valve. The temperature and pressure relief valve lets off pressure if the tank gets too hot. It has to open when it's needed.
• The anode rod. This metal rod inside the tank wears away so your tank doesn't have to. Once it's used up, the tank starts to rust.
• Leaks and connections. Drips at the fittings, valves, and base of the tank.
• The burner or heating elements, venting, and thermostat. These make sure the heater runs safely and heats the way it should.

What It Costs at True Grit Plumbing

Here's our pricing. You get the price before we start. No surprises on the bill.

The anode rod wears away so your tank doesn't have to. Once it's gone, the tank starts to rust from the inside.

How Often Should a Water Heater Be Serviced?

Once a year for most tank water heaters. A.O. Smith recommends flushing most tank water heaters at least once a year, and more often where the water is hard.

That matters around here. A lot of homes in Bartow and Cherokee counties are on well water, and hard water leaves more minerals behind. More minerals means more sediment, and more sediment means a shorter life for your water heater. (We cover this in How Long Does a Water Heater Last?)

Is Servicing a Water Heater Worth It?

For most homes, yes. A tank water heater should last 8 to 12 years. Sediment is one of the biggest reasons they don't make it that long.

Think about it this way. A flush is $149. A new water heater installed costs a lot more. (See what Georgia homeowners actually pay in our water heater replacement cost guide.) If a yearly flush buys you even one or two more years, it has paid for itself many times over.

There's an honest exception. If your water heater is already 12 or more years old and has never been flushed, a flush can stir up years of packed sediment and cause trouble. In that case, it's worth a conversation about whether to repair or replace before you spend money on service.

What About Tankless Water Heaters?

Tankless water heaters need yearly service too. Instead of a flush, they get descaled: a cleaning solution runs through the unit to clear out mineral buildup. On hard water, skipping this can ruin the heat exchanger, which is the most expensive part of the unit. If you have a tankless water heater, ask us for a price when you call.

Can I Flush My Water Heater Myself?

You can. Plenty of handy homeowners do. But here's what we see go wrong:

• The drain valve breaks or won't close. Many water heaters come with a plastic drain valve. After years of sitting, it can crack or leak once you open it.
• The drain clogs. Heavy sediment can plug the valve halfway through, leaving you with a half-drained tank.
• Gas and power. You have to shut off the gas or the power the right way before you start, and bring it back safely after. Running an electric heater with an empty tank burns out the elements.

If you'd rather not deal with it, that's what we're here for. We also check the safety valve and anode rod while we're there, which most DIY flushes skip.

A yearly service checks the safety valve, the anode rod, and looks for leaks, not just the flush.

Signs Your Water Heater Needs Service Now

• Popping, rumbling, or banging noises. That's water boiling under a layer of sediment.
• Hot water runs out faster than it used to. Sediment takes up room in the tank.
• Rusty or cloudy hot water. Often a worn-out anode rod or rust inside the tank.
• Water around the base of the tank. Call right away. A leaking tank usually can't be fixed.
• It's been more than a year, or you can't remember the last time it was flushed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• A.O. Smith — Water Heater Maintenance Guide
• National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors — Residential Water Heater Safety

True Grit Plumbing proudly serves Cartersville, Emerson, Euharlee, Acworth, Kennesaw, Marietta, Canton, Woodstock, and all of Northwest Georgia — Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Paulding, Floyd, Gordon, and Polk Counties.