Quote Originally Posted by rbeau30 View Post
While we are on this subject, Is there any regular maintenance that a homeowner can do themselves to extend the life of a water heater?
If you have a water heater with a brass drain valve then occasional draining will help keep the sediment out. Shut the water off open he hot water side of a sink and drain. Never open the t and p valve because they don't always seal closed. If you have a state, kenmore, Sears, whirlpool tank keep area around the tank clean and free of dirt and debris. I recommend using compressed air to blow our from underneath those tanks.