Replace Your Water Heater's Drain Valve
For More Thorough Sediment Removal

Supplied courtesy Freedom Flow Sediment Flush Valve

Heating water accounts for about 20 percent of the typical family's utility bill. As sediment builds up in water heaters, it takes more energy to heat the water. In fact, initial studies have shown that it can take as much as 31% longer to heat water in a tank with several inches of sediment build-up.

The rapid unnecessary replacement of U.S. water heaters ultimately harms the environment. When sediment deteriorates the lining, the water heater leaks and is scrapped. If water heaters taken out-of-service each year were laid end-to-end, they would extend from New York to California and back and then to Miami!

While several inches of sediment may sound overblown, it is common in some areas...

Many water districts inject lime into their water supply to reduce the effects of lead content in pipes, solder and flux installed prior to the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1986. This lime, coupled with minerals native to an area, can accumulate in the water heater. Depending on local water conditions, some water heaters can collect up to one to two inches of sediment a month!

Sediment reduces water heater efficiency... removal increases its working life!

Once sediment is removed, the first-hour rating (the amount of hot water that a water heater can supply in one hour when the unit is new) is improved and the capacity of the tank is returned to its intended amount. Gas models are more efficient than electric models, but tend to be noisier when sediment builds up. The popping and banging occurs when water becomes trapped behind sediment and converts to steam when heated. The bothersome noise is eliminated when sediment is removed. 

Sediment is also detrimental to the life of a water heater. Over 9 million water heaters are sold in the US. Eighty percent, or 7.2 million, of those water heaters are for replacement of failed units and the majority of units fail due to sediment buildup. To replace a water heater is costly and, very often, additional modifications must be made to comply with improved building codes. Many consumers are ill-prepared financially for the expense of a new unit and repairs from the usual resulting water damage. Using Freedom Flow can reduce monthly and long-range costs.

Most consumers have no knowledge of how to easily remove this sediment and improve their water heater's energy efficiency. They are fearful for two reasons: water in their home and a power source. There is a simple, economical solution though.

You can improve your water heater with a replacement drain valve

Freedom Flow Sediment Flush Valve is a replacement valve for water heaters that easily and effortlessly removes sediment. The drain valves presently installed on water heaters actually impede sediment removal with their small, often angled openings. Unlike Freedom Flow, they are designed to drain the tanks of water. Freedom Flow is designed and manufactured specifically to get rid of sediment AND reduce energy costs. The simple installation takes just minutes--the present drain valve is replaced exactly as another drain valve would be and the tank doesn't need to be drained completely to install or operate it. Consumers can now view sediment removal as a simple, energy-saving home maintenance item--like changing the filter in your furnace.  Read NH's full article on water heater flushing HERE.

Water heater manufacturers have been reluctant to change their drain valves to this improved design--the volume of water heaters sold for replacement and cost were the two reasons cited. One major manufacturer offers the valve for sale in its catalog for much more. Another major manufacturer puts the exact same valve on its top-of-the-line models. Other companies try to duplicate it with various parts put together--you don't know the quality of those parts and they could easily fail and leak. Made of forged brass, Freedom Flow features 2 virgin Teflon seats, three viton rings in the stem and is bottom-loaded to eliminate leakage. It is the easiest and most efficient way to get rid of the sediment in your water heater; keep the sediment out on a regular basis AND save you money!

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