How To Drain A Water Heater? – Flush Water Heater

All the water heaters possess large sized tanks as the storage unit for water. With this large capacity tank, the heater thus can generate a large amount of high-temperature water. This insulated water holding tank can fulfill all the requirements for all the users in the family or home. But all the water that comes inside the heater container is not clean and pure. Hence there are chances of sedimentation in the inner parts of the tank due the impurities and salts that are present in the water.

This sedimentation not only corrodes the inner part of the water heater but it even decreases the heating efficiency of the heater and moreover consumes more power to heat the similar amount of water.

Thus the sediments and salts that are gathered inside the heater reduce life, efficiency as well as the capacity of the water heater. You may find personal-sized heater easy to use and worry-free.

How To Drain A Water Heater

This installation of salts and the sediments that are on the inner part of the water heater can interfere and disturb the efficiency of the burners as well that are present in the gas water heater and can eventually be the reason of cracking.

You can even hear the popping noise when the heating process is going, this is due the impurities that are present inside the tank. Hence the quality of water that is used for heating in the heater plays an essential role in the water heaters life and processing efficiency.

Know | How Long Does a Water Heater Last?

The mineral content of the water is the key of sedimentation and salt installation. You can find our Recommendations for more clarity.

Thus, both the electric as well as the gas water heater should be taken under the cleaning or say flushing process every third year.

This can increase the life of the water heaters and apparently reduce the cost due to high power consumption as it will lead to better processing efficiency after flushing or cleaning is done.

It is recommended by the experts to flush off the heater and remove the salt installations and all other sediments if the water that is coming to your home is not clean or contains large amount of minerals.

Know Why Flushing Is Required In A Water Heater

Please take due cautions and work carefully while doing this process. Do not be lethargic or lazy as it may lead to serious damage. Read carefully and follow the same properly. Here are some Recommendations as to how to drain your water heater.

Step 1: Turn off the supply

The first thing that you need to do before flushing the heater is to turn off the water supply by closing the main supply valve that delivers water to your entire house. If you forget to do so or ignore doing it, it may result in the creation of a splash pool in your entire house. So better turn off the main supply before moving further.

Step 2: Turn off the power

The next thing is to become cautious. Water and electricity together are the worst nightmare which can result in catastrophic events which you would never wish to happen. Thus switch off the water heater before you flush it off. Moreover, the recommended guideline is to switch off the main power switches as well, before flushing off the water heater.

And for the gas water heaters, you can turn the thermostat to the pilot settings.

Step 3: Attach a hose to the drain valve:

You would not want the tank water to scatter all over the floor in your entire house and to prevent this you need to collect the drain water properly. The use of hose is the perfect way to drain and collect the tank water in any other container. You can even end the hose in the drain line in your bathroom or any other drain line and this will drain all your tank water directly into the drainage system. No extra work or spoiling of floor takes place if you use a hose to do the work.

Also, check out Best Water Heater Reviews of 2018 – Buying Guide

Step 4: Open the nearest tap

Now after installing the hose on to the drain valve what you require to do is, turn on the tap which closest to the water heater. By doing so you will create a high amount of pressure inside the water heater which would result in faster drainage of water. The pressure difference will help you to drain the water with at force which as a result will clean the water heater tank properly.

Step 5: Open the drain valve

Now slowly open the drain valve and make it completely open to drain away all the water. Please be careful while doing so, as there are chances that there might be hot water inside. So take care while draining the water tank. After the tank water is drained you can do the same steps that you performed till now, that is to fill the tank again with water by turning the main supply on and drain it again the same way.

Do not forget to close the drain valve when you are refilling the tank. And as you will perform this for three to four times the tank will be cleaned and sediments will be removed. Or else do the same process until the clean water comes out.

Check It Out: How to Replace a Water Heater? | Expert’s Recommendation

If you experience slow drainage speed or no water drains from the heater tank then assume that the drain valve is blocked and here you need and expert to do the remaining work.

Step 6: Close the drain valve and turn on the water heater

At the end do not forget to close the drain valve. After closing the drain valve refill the water tank by turning the main supply on. Check whether cold water coming through the tap that is connected to the water heater and if it is coming then close the tap.

Now remove the hose pipe from the drain valve and see to it that the drain valve is completely closed. Later turn on the water heater. If it is a gas water heater turn the pilot back to the on position and if the water heater is electric then turn the supply on.

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