A professional water heater maintenance visit covers flushing sediment from the tank, inspecting the anode rod, testing the temperature and pressure relief valve, verifying the thermostat and heating elements, checking combustion and venting on gas units, and inspecting every connection for corrosion or seepage.

The Full Checklist

  • Drain and flush the tank. Removes the mineral sediment that insulates the burner or buries the lower element. This is the single most valuable task on the list in Albuquerque water.
  • Inspect the anode rod. A sacrificial rod that corrodes so your tank does not. Once consumed, the tank becomes the sacrifice — and a leaking tank cannot be repaired. Replacement is inexpensive and rarely done because homeowners do not know it exists.
  • Test the temperature and pressure relief valve. A safety device that can seize shut with no outward sign. It is the last line of defense against an over-pressurized tank.
  • Check thermostats and heating elements on electric units, including resistance readings that reveal an element about to fail.
  • Verify temperature setting — around 120 degrees. Higher accelerates scale and corrosion and is a scald risk.
  • Inspect the burner, combustion, and venting on gas units. A blocked or disconnected flue is a carbon monoxide hazard.
  • Inspect connections, fittings, the drain valve, and the expansion tank for corrosion, weeping, or fatigue.
  • Check incoming water pressure. Excess pressure stresses the tank and causes the T&P valve to weep — often the real cause behind a “leaking” heater.

What You Get Afterward

A plain-language summary of the unit’s condition, anything measured out of spec, and a realistic estimate of remaining life — with pricing on any recommended work so nothing surprises you later.

Tankless Is Different

A tankless visit is primarily a descaling of the heat exchanger, plus flow sensor, igniter, filter, and venting checks. Many manufacturers require it annually to keep the warranty valid.

A water softener treats the underlying hardness. Care Club members get this on schedule. Contact B. Carlson in Albuquerque.