This video will show how to drain and flush your water heater for sediment removal. This is good to do about every one to two years. If you have hard water or well water, you might want to do this sooner.

Over time, sediment can build up at the bottom of the tank, and that can act like an insulator which prevents good heat transfer from the heat source to the water. This will make the heat source run longer and also less efficiently. In some extreme cases, it can also sometimes cause the tank to corrode.

These steps should help keep your water heater running efficiently, and help it last longer.