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1. Water heaters just like any other appliance in your home needs regular maintenance and cleaning.  It is important for the home owner to be sure that regular evaluations of the water heaters operation and condition be done through out its service life. We must note that any leaks in the piping area of the heater be addressed if seen as soon as possible to prevent damage to the top of the water heater and the electrical connections. Any water at the top of a water heater can be dangerous and an electrical hazard. Once we are sure that no water is dripping on the top of the tank we should look at the condition of the piping. If the piping seams to have a greenish color or has corrosion it might be time to call a plumber by googling "plumber near me". Here we can find a plumber that will be able to make the repair to the water heater alternatively you may google "monahansplumbing.com" to get your heater serviced. 2.You should look at the top and the outside jacket of the water heater for any rusting and note any water or drip marks coming from the two inspection plates in the front of the heater. Please note that the plates have one screw at the top. DO NOT attempt to remove the screws. If your water heater is dripping water or rust stains are showing contact a professional for further evaluation. 3. When we are sure that there is no leaking and the pipes are in good shape we can now proceed to do general maintenance to our water heater. Firstly, do not keep flammable items or liquid around the water heater. Secondly, clear any items along the sides and rear of the water heater. 4. Draining the water heater periodically can add years to your water heater. To drain your water heater make sure you shut off the power to your heater. If there is a plug, pull the plug straight out. Go to your circuit breaker panel and search for the switch that shuts down power to your water heater. After you shut the electric to your heater, then you need to turn off the valve located on the right side on top of the water heater. When the water is shut down and the electricity is shut off then we can go to the next step. You may now hook up a garden hose to the bottom of the water hear making sure that it is screwed on firmly. Extend the hose out away from the house preferably to your drive way. Now open the valve where you connected the hose. Turn the valve counter clockwise with a screw driver until you hear water flowing and you may see the water flowing out to your driveway along with sediments and debris. When the water runs clear then you can turn off the valve and your job is complete. If no water comes out of your hose or it starts and stops then there is too much sediment. You will need to contact a professional and go to " Monahansplumbing.com " and make an appointment to have your heater serviced. When we don't service the heater periodically the sediment build up tends to lodge itself around the bottom electrical elements. If this goes on for sometime it can cause premature failure of the heater. Therefore, this service is necessary to be done especially in Florida. We hope that you have found this information informative and if you have any questions or you are in need of service you can call us at  (239) 541-9527  .