Wait, a whole year over a quarter inch?

You mentioned checking the oil, but that pulley needs its own check. I give mine a spin by hand when the belt is off, listening for any rough sound or feeling for grit. Catching it early saves the whole assembly.

Man, that's it exactly! It's the same with so many things, like changing your furnace filter or cleaning your dryer vent. We're all so busy putting out fires that we ignore the tiny, cheap tasks that stop the big disasters. Your plumber nailed it, we're trained to react to emergencies instead of preventing them. It feels like a whole life lesson hiding in a water heater tank.