How to Drain a Water Heater
Over time, water heaters (both gas and electric) get sediment in them. If left too long, it can make your water heater less efficient and decrease its life span, so it's wise to get rid of it. Draining your water heater will flush the sediment right out of the tank.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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Draining your water heater
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1
Shut off the heating element for your water tank. If you have an electric water heater, turn off the breaker at the main panel. If it's a gas heater, turn the thermostat to the "pilot" setting.
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2
Turn off the cold water supply to your tank. You probably have a shut-off right at the tank (on a copper pipe running into the top of the tank), but you may need to turn off the main water supply to your house.
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3
Attach a garden hose to the bottom drain valve on your water tank and run the hose to a drain.
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4
Turn on a hot water faucet in your home (this will make sure a vacuum doesn't form in the lines).
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5
Return to the tank and open the drain valve near the bottom of the tank. (The valve on the side of the tank, near the top, is a pressure relief valve. Leave it alone.)
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6
Check the color of the water coming out of the tank. At first it will likely be rusty or dark, but after a few gallons have drained, it should become clear.
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7
Close the drain valve on the tank when the water runs clear, then turn off the hot water tap in your home.
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8
Turn the cold water supply back on and allow the tank to fill.
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9
Turn the power or the gas supply back on once the tank has filled with water.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Draining the sediment from your water tank once a year is a good way to ensure your tank is working at its maximum efficiency.
Remember, you are working with water that is hot enough to scald you. Always wear gloves and eye protection.
Read the manufacturer's instructions and warnings on your tank. Water tanks vary, and on some, it's possible for the heating element to burn out if there is no water in the tank.
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Comments
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finaly I got my waterheather tank drained thank, s to the informations on the website.
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Good grief! I thought I coulld just let the hot water run in the bath tub until it ran clear. See that's not good enough, duh~.
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zingzing99
Jan 10, 2010
Step 7 is incorrect. You must leave the hot water tap on. Meaning any sink you had opened the hot water on should stay on. This avoids pressure building up in the tank during filling (the opposite of vacuum) Next turn the cold water on to the tank and let it fill. When you see water running smoothly out of the hot water tap or faucet with no sputtering it's full. AT that point. Turn off the hot water tap and turn on the breaker to the hot water tank to start the heating process. The person writing this assumed you could just reverse the steps, but you can't. -
Murray Anderson
Jun 15, 2009
If you just wait the grass will come back. You could speed up the process a little by spreading some topsoil and grass seed or if you want it even faster, put down sod in the burned out area.
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dmbassett0221
Jun 14, 2009
I got a new hot water heater three days ago. The plumber drained the old one in the grass and now the spot is dead. Ehat can I do to fix it?
