Your water heater is one of the hardest-working appliances in your Evansville home, and it's easy to forget about — until it fails. Cold showers, water damage from a burst tank, and emergency replacement costs can all be avoided with a few simple maintenance tasks. Here's what every Evansville homeowner should do to keep their water heater running efficiently for years.
Flush the Tank Annually
This is the single most important maintenance task for a tank-style water heater, and it's especially critical in Evansville. Our water supply, drawn from the Ohio River and treated by the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility, contains minerals that settle to the bottom of your tank as sediment. Over time, this sediment layer insulates the water from the heating element, reducing efficiency and eventually causing the tank to overheat and fail.
How to flush:
- Turn off the power (electric) or set the gas valve to pilot (gas heaters).
- Connect a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank.
- Run the hose to a floor drain, outside, or into buckets.
- Open the drain valve and let the water flow until it runs clear — typically 5–10 minutes.
- Close the valve, disconnect the hose, and restore power/gas.
Do this once a year, ideally in fall before winter puts extra demand on the heater. If you've never flushed an older tank, be prepared for dark, rusty water — that's the sediment you want out.
Check the Anode Rod
The anode rod is a sacrificial metal rod inside your tank that attracts corrosive elements, protecting the tank lining from rust. It's the reason a water heater lasts 10–15 years instead of 5. But it eventually gets consumed — and when it's gone, the tank itself starts corroding.
Check the rod every 2–3 years by shutting off water and power, draining a few gallons, and unscrewing the rod from the top of the tank. If more than 6 inches of the core wire is exposed, or the rod is heavily coated in calcium, replace it. A new anode rod costs $20–$40 and can add years to your tank's life.
This is especially important in older Evansville homes in Jacobsville and Stringtown where water heaters may be approaching end of life and replacements are more disruptive due to tighter utility spaces.
Insulate the Tank and Pipes
Evansville winters mean your water heater works harder to maintain temperature, especially if it's in an unheated basement or garage. An insulating blanket wraps around the tank and reduces standby heat loss by 25–40%. They cost $20–$30 and pay for themselves in energy savings within a year.
Also insulate the first 3 feet of hot water pipe exiting the tank with foam pipe insulation ($5–$10). This reduces heat loss as water travels to your fixtures and means faster hot water at the tap — a nice benefit on a cold January morning.
Important: If you have a gas water heater, don't cover the top or the burner compartment — it needs air for combustion and the blanket is a fire hazard near the flue.
Test the Temperature and Pressure (T&P) Relief Valve
The T&P valve is a safety device that releases water if pressure or temperature gets dangerously high. If it fails, your tank can literally explode — it's rare but it happens. Test it annually:
- Place a bucket under the discharge pipe.
- Lift the valve lever slightly — water should flow out.
- Release the lever — it should snap shut and stop the flow.
If it leaks after testing or won't open at all, replace it immediately. A new valve costs $15–$25.
Set the Right Temperature
Set your thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is hot enough for comfortable showers and dishwashing, hot enough to prevent bacterial growth, but not so hot that it scalds or wastes energy. Every 10 degrees you lower the setting saves 3–5% on water heating costs.
Know When to Replace
A well-maintained water heater lasts 10–15 years. If yours is approaching that age and you notice rumbling noises (sediment buildup that can't be flushed), rusty water, moisture around the base, or inconsistent temperatures, it's time to plan for replacement before it fails. Scheduling a replacement on your terms is far better than an emergency call on a freezing January night — and you can take the opportunity to upgrade to a more efficient unit.