The recommended drain (flushing) interval is every year, not every 5 
years.  Some manufacturers recommend flushing every 2-3 months.  Not 
just calcium carbonate builds up in water heaters.  Iron hydroxide also 
precipitates, depending upon the water chemistry.

If you flush the water heater, you should also have a spigot repair kit 
available.  Valves that are used once a year tend to leak after one 
use.  The drain valves tend to be of the lowest adequate quality and 
price.

There is also an anode that can be changed in water heaters.  It is 
usually at the top of the tank.  It corrodes instead of the water 
heater and extends the life.  The anode should be inspected every 5 
years, and possibly changed.  Frankly, if you take it out of the water 
heater, you not only had better be prepared to replace it with a new 
one, but you may as well install the new one.  But, it is another one 
of those maintenance items that is almost never done.  In most cases, 
on can tell that a problem developed with the anode when the hot water 
smells like rotten eggs (H2S).  By that time, the water heater is 
probably already corroded and leaking.

The water heater is like your house.  You can spend your life doing 
maintenance on your own house, and in the meantime not make any money.  
I suspect that if restoration contractors were cobblers, their children 
would be shoeless.

Steve Stokowski
Stone Products Consultants

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Simpson <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, Apr 8, 2010 6:20 pm
Subject: [BP] Scaley water heaters and tea pots

If you live where there is calcium carbonate in  the water(as in 
limestone) you can tell by the white coating in the bottom of your 
teapot. Likewise this scale accumulates in the water heater and can 
cause problems. Most water heaters have a faucet at the bottom to 
connect a hose and drain the water with the heat turned off. This 
should be done about every five years. I've had mine for about 15 years 
and just remembered to do this. Here's hoping for another 15!

Larry 2

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