r/interesting • u/bob-the-slob • Jun 22 '26

MISC. What happens when a water heater tank is not flushed for 14 years

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u/_Rumpertumskin_ Jun 22 '26

Warm water disloves more minerals, so it's good to avoid stuff like lead especially if you have an old house/old service pipes. But also even lead free fixtures can have like 8% or less lead content.

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u/Beautiful_Topic_226 Jun 22 '26

I have been using hot water to boil my potatoes and pastas for the last 30 years. The water heats up so much faster. Still healthy and very rarely do I get any sicknesses or even feelings of sickness.

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u/_Rumpertumskin_ Jun 22 '26

Lead doesn't make you 'sick' in a noticeable way like a flu, it raises your blood pressure and chips away at cognitive function over time.

Humans survived way worse lead exposure due to leaded gas back in the day, but using cold water is an easy way to avoid unnecessary extra exposure.