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.

Connect the hose to the valve and run it to the nearest drain. This will give you the best control over the runoff. Give the valve a slow turn lefty loosey. It might take a few cranks around before anything happens, but you'll hear water running when it does. Check the end of the hose to see what kind of water is coming out. When the water runs clear you should be good to go. Crank the valve shut and disconnect the hose. Keep an eye out for a leaky valve, as mentioned above you may need to completely replace the valve all together. Depending on how handy you are, you may want to hire a plumber or handy man for this project.

Now that your finished, kick back drink you favorite beverage and tell your spouse you just saved money and didn't spend a dime! To improve energy efficiency for an existing home, thermal images from an energy house inspection or home energy audit will reveal many of the leaks in the thermal envelop. After the review you will have a roadmap to proper weatherization. Whether you are the do it yourself, "DYI" person or want to hand off to a contractor or handyman, the roadmap will help you make the best decision first. Fixing whats found will greatly improve your comfort, savings and reduce your carbon footprint.