Horseless Carriage
Member
I have a new AO Smith model GCV-50 natural gas water heater. It has a "Dynaclean Diffuser dip tube", which is advertised as "helps reduce lime and sediment buildup, maximizes hot water output. Made from longlasting PEX cross-linked polymer". It's shown here, on page 2:
http://www.hotwater.com/lit/catalogs/arbca00106.pdf
So since I have a water heater with a fancy corkscrew dip tube, does this mean I don't have to flush the tank every 6-12 months? I've asked this question of two plumbers who came out, one was the installer, and another had experience installing that brand and model, but was coming out for a different reason. One said "no, you don't need to flush it, it has a fancy corkscrew dip tube" (I'm paraphrasing), and the other said "yes, you do need to flush it, but don't bother turning off the water or the burner first. Just plug in a garden hose, turn on the drain valve, let it drain for 5 minutes, and then turn off the drain valve".
So since I've had one person tell me that I don't have to flush it, and another tell me I do have to flush it, I thought I'd ask more people, in the hopes of clearing up the issue definitively.
The water heater is about 7 weeks old.
http://www.hotwater.com/lit/catalogs/arbca00106.pdf
So since I have a water heater with a fancy corkscrew dip tube, does this mean I don't have to flush the tank every 6-12 months? I've asked this question of two plumbers who came out, one was the installer, and another had experience installing that brand and model, but was coming out for a different reason. One said "no, you don't need to flush it, it has a fancy corkscrew dip tube" (I'm paraphrasing), and the other said "yes, you do need to flush it, but don't bother turning off the water or the burner first. Just plug in a garden hose, turn on the drain valve, let it drain for 5 minutes, and then turn off the drain valve".
So since I've had one person tell me that I don't have to flush it, and another tell me I do have to flush it, I thought I'd ask more people, in the hopes of clearing up the issue definitively.
The water heater is about 7 weeks old.