In a typical residential environment, the hot water heater is responsible for a large portion of a household's power consumption bill. Therefore, for a utility cost management plan to succeed, the hot water heater must be considered.
In order to save on the hot water bill, the hot water heater should be in top condition. A hot water heater that is electrically operated, typically has a one or two heating elements protruding into the water tank. As electricity is introduced, the elements become hot and heat the water within the tank. In order to efficiently operate the water heater, these elements must be kept in good shape.
However much the public desires to believe to the contrary, the residential water supply is not pure water. The water will typically contain impurities such as minerals, sediments, sand, debris, and the like. These impurities are especially pronounced in households that rely on well water and those located in coastal areas.
These impurities will settle on the bottom of the hot water tank and accumulate over time. The accumulation of sediment builds up on and cakes to the elements, especially the element located close to the bottom of the tank. A sediment buildup on the element decreases its efficiency and increases the cost of heating the water within the tank. As the accumulation of the sediment continues and the buildup on the elements increases, the elements become less and less efficient until they fail, necessitating a replacement. The sediment accumulation also decreases the useful life of the hot water tank itself.
What is needed is a way to be able to remove the sediment without adding to the purchase cost of the hot water tank assembly. One simple solution is to periodically remove the sediment, thereby preventing an accumulation within the tank and a buildup on the elements. However, the only opening available into present day hot water tanks is through the opening through which the element is inserted, a very small opening indeed. With such a small opening, a person desiring to remove debris would be required to use a small instrument such as a teaspoon. Such a process would be slow and inefficient and would discourage all but the extremely dedicated.
What is needed is a hot water tank assembly that has an opening in the tank that will permit a person to insert his hand directly into the tank. Such an assembly would give a person easy access into the interior of the hot water tank and would permit that person to remove accumulated sediment quickly and easily. With regular sediment removal, the elements would not experience a sediment buildup and would operate more efficiently as well as experience a longer life span. The result would a lower hot water bill and lower maintenance costs of both the elements and the tank assembly itself.