In general water heaters are not self-cleaning. Our Hydrojet^® Total Performance System helps reduce harmful sediment build-up by the turbulent introduction of cold water into the tank. While this greatly improves tank longevity and helps maintain overall performance, it does not replace the need to periodically drain your tank. We recommend you ask your plumbing professional about routine maintenance on your water heater including draining the tank. Recommended maintenance is listed in the service manual provided with your water heater. You can find the documentation and other information for your Bradford White water heater here. Need a Pro to service your water heater? Find one here.The vast majority of our tank-type water heaters are constructed of steel with the interior lined with our proprietary enamel called Vitraglas^®. Vitraglas^® helps guard against corrosion of the tank and features Microban^® antimicrobial technology, which helps prevent the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew on the surface of the lining. This greatly extends the lifespan of your Bradford White water heater. It’s another great reason why you should choose Bradford White.Energy Factor is a former metric used to measure the efficiency of water heaters overall. This has been replaced by the more updated and accurate Uniform Energy Factor (UEF). For UEF, the higher the number the more efficient the water heater. Learn more here.The Defender Safety System^® is the name of Bradford White’s exclusive flammable vapor ignition resistant (FVIR) system. It is a proven feature in many of our residential gas water heaters that resists the ignition of flammable vapors outside of the water heater. The Defender System^® gives you the peace of mind knowing you have not only reliable performance but safer operation, too.The ICON System^® is Bradford White’s exclusive intelligent gas controller found on our residential and commercial gas water heaters. It provides enhanced operational performance and advanced diagnostics. It is one of the many innovations that make Bradford White water heaters Built to be the Best^®.Most of our residential models have the insulation thickness indicated by the third digit of the model number. Every inch of insulation represents approximately an R-value of 8. For example, model number RE250T6 has an insulation thickness of two inches which has an approximate R-value of 16. You can find more information about your Bradford White water heater here .First-Hour Rating is an estimate of the maximum volume of hot water that a storage-type water heater can supply within an hour beginning with the water heater fully heated. It is a function of both the storage volume and the recovery rate (how quickly the water in the tank heats back up) of the water heater. Plumbing pros can use that among other factors to help determine the right water heater for a specific homeowner’s needs. An Ultra Low NOx gas water heater is one that emits a lower level of nitrogen oxide than a standard gas water heater. Some states and municipalities have requirements and standards to limit the maximum amount of NOx emissions for gas water heaters – particularly certain counties in California and in the state of Utah. Our Ultra Low NOx models are designed to comply with these standards. To find out what is required for your area, we recommend you contact your plumbing professional who knows the local codes and regulations. Need a pro? Find one here Look at the outside of your water heater and if the blue ENERGY STAR^® logo is on it, it is indeed ENERGY STAR^® certified. If you can’t find that logo, look for the model and serial number on your rating plate on your water heater. Here’s how to find it. Visit our My Water Heater Information page and enter your model or serial number. It will bring up documentation and information on your water heater. Click “specifications” then click the corresponding document. There you will find if your water heater is ENERGY STAR^® certified. If you very recently purchased your water heater and it is an ENERGY STAR^® certified model, you may be eligible for local rebates. Check for rebates in your area here. The lifespan of a water heater can vary depending on many factors such as fuel type, use, maintenance, water quality, the overall water heater quality, and more. With a professional installation and proper maintenance, our water heaters can last 10 years or more. That’s why Bradford White water heaters are Built to be the Best^®. If you suspect your current water heater needs replacing, check out Is It Time to Replace Your Water Heater video. Then contact your plumbing professional and tell them you want the quality of a Bradford White. Additionally, Bradford White offers our BUILTBEST^® Extended Warranty options for many of our water heater models to give you extra peace-of-mind. Need a plumbing pro? Find one here.