Water Heater flushing
 

The recent water heater thread has me wondering. I know you can buy a wand that you insert where the anode goes to flush debris from the tank. But I'm wondering if you couldn't simply take the anode out and connect to city water and let it rip.
Wouldn't that accomplish the same thing?

Glen, I think the wand lets you direct a stream of kind of high pressure water to the back corners of the tank, which in turn flushes out a lot of crud. I know that is what happened when I last cleaned my water heater. I don't know if simply letting water flow into the tank would accomplish the same thing.

I don't think it would work as well at removing scale Glenn. There is no jet of higher pressure water to "scrub" the tank walls like with the wand - as in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKg0R9oiMP0

Glen you can just remove the anode plug then using one of those pistol grip type garden nozzles on the jet setting shoot a half dozen or so shots into the tank, pausing to let the water run out each time. Stop when no more grey goop comes out.
Mark

Sounds reasonable if I'm on target. :)
My outdoor faucet at the front of the house is installed before the pressure reduction valve, so I get the full force.

Haven't watched the wand video yet.
I'm going to get around it it, just to see how anybody could make a 14 minute, 13 second video on inserting a wand and turning on the water.

According to the video, it's much more than just shooting water in and letting it drain. The wand allows you to reach all areas of the tank to scour the scale off the container. About half of the video was how to "sterlize" the water system using white vinegar. The wands are cheap enough, I'm getting one. YMMV

Water Heater flushing
 

The wands are a great way to get the tank clean. I think the guy in the video only descales with vinegar once a year. He also has some good info on the anodes. I didn't know that they have different anodes depending on the chemistry of your water. Apparently if you notice the anode deteriorating too rapidly, you should change it for an Aluminum and Zinc one that lasts longer. I also like the idea of having a spare.

I have Amazon Prime, just bought the wand. $8.57 and as the guy in the video says, last years. I like the thumb shut off valve. A regular hose attachment may work, but cool.. I get to decide when the water comes on and cleans the hot water tank. YMMV

I'm still using the original anode that came with the trailer and at the rate it's going, I don't expect to have to replace it any time soon. But, we have soft water here.