What does the inside of a water heater look like?
A steel tank, a layer of foam around it and a thin metal jacket outside. We cut this old gas water heater open in our Chantilly shop to show you what’s in there.
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Licensed and insuredVirginia Class A contractor #2705192276
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From one of our jobs
An old gas water heater cut open in our shop
Right now: Look at the bottom of your water heater and the floor around it. Rust streaks or a damp ring mean call today.
The tank is steel with a glass lining. The foam keeps the heat in. Down the middle runs the flue, the pipe the exhaust rises through, and beside it hangs the anode rod, a metal rod that corrodes so the tank doesn’t. The burner sits under the bottom, and that’s where minerals from the water settle out as sediment.
Once the anode rod is used up, the water goes to work on the steel. That’s how a tank ends up leaking from the bottom, and a leak from the tank itself can’t be patched. A yearly flush clears the sediment and lets us look at the rod while there’s still something to save.
Quick answers
What people ask about what’s inside a water heater
What is the anode rod in a water heater?
A metal rod hung inside the tank that corrodes on purpose, so the water eats it instead of the tank. When it’s gone, the tank starts to rust from the inside.
Why does sediment build up in a water heater?
Minerals in the water drop out when it’s heated and settle on the bottom of the tank. Hard water adds more every year, and you hear it as popping when the burner runs.
Can a water heater leaking from the bottom be fixed?
If it’s the drain valve or a fitting, yes. If the water is coming from the tank itself, it’s rusted through and the heater needs replacing.
How often should a tank water heater be flushed?
Once a year is a good habit, more often with hard water. It’s also when we check the anode rod and the relief valve.
Who flushes and replaces water heaters in Northern Virginia?
Call SwiftPro at (703) 997-9757. Our own plumbers flush, repair and replace tank and tankless water heaters across Northern Virginia.
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SwiftPro Heating, Cooling & Plumbing
4230 Lafayette Center Dr N, Chantilly, VA 20151
44679 Endicott Dr, Suite 211, Ashburn, VA 20147
SwiftPro Plumber & Water Heaters
4200 Lafayette Center Dr, Suite N, Chantilly, VA 20151
Virginia Class A contractor license #2705192276