Keep your hot water tank in good condition and running most efficiently by draining the sludge from the bottom. The more sludge bild up you have in the bottom of your hot water tank the more energy your wasting. Essentially you wind up with less hot water upon demand and your paying to heat sludge 24/7 that your not going to use. So here is a simple how to for the DIY person to improve your hot water heaters efficiency and make yourself feel better about a clean hot water tank.

First take a good look at your hot water heater to make sure it has a drain at the bottom. Most of them are plastic and can be very problematic if you try to turn them. Your best bet is to have a new valve on hand or just plan to replace it with a brass fixture. Make sure you know where the water shut off is for the Hot water tank. Depending on how hot the water is, you might want to wear gloves and safety glasses as well.

We get these questions all the time. The only quick answer is one of hydronics wizard Dan Holohan's favorite replies: "It depends."

The most useful answers can be given if the questions tie into the broader context of getting the most from the whole water-heating system. People already know they should look for energy efficiency from the heater itself. But additional savings can be found in water distribution, equipment sizing and selection, and maintenance.