Per the instructions with my new water heater, I drain a gallon from the bottom every month. The previous owner of my home never did anything and that water heater started leaking, hence the replacement.
The water in our area is hard-ish, but I hesitate to call it hard. I've never seen this in all the decades I lived in this area but, when I drain the water, there is a collection of minerals, sandy looking, in the bottom of the bucket. Maybe a tablespoon amount.
This has been going on for a year. At first I thought it might be residue in the pipes. We had some of the plumbing replaced cause it was in bad shape but not a majority of it.
How unusual is this and should I be concerned or do anything about it? I've lived within 10 miles of my current home and I've never seen that before though I'll admit I've not been as meticulous about taking care to drain the water heater or doing it in a bucket first. Have I just never noticed it before?