How to Replace a Water Heater Drain Valve

If you need to drain your water heater and the drain valve isn't allowing a good water flow, then it's time to replace the valve. You also need to replace the drain valve, if it's leaking. In any event, replacing a drain valve on a water heater is a job you can tackle yourself. Follow these steps, and your water heater can be good as new.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• New drain valve
• Garden hose
• Wrench
• Pipe sealer or Teflon tape
• Rags

1. Set the gas control to "pilot," or shut off the gas supply. For an electric water heater, shut off the power at the main circuit panel.

2. Close the cold water shut-off valve. Turn on the temperature and pressure relief valve located on top of the water heater. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve, and drain the water heater. Run the hose to a floor drain or outside and before turning the drain valve on.

3. Remove the garden hose from the drain valve once the water flow stops and turn the valve off. Leave the temperature and pressure relief valve open.

4. Use a wrench to remove the old drain valve. Apply pipe sealer or Teflon tape to the threads of the new drain valve, and replace. Check to ensure that the new drain valve closes once it's in place.

5. Open a hot water faucet at any sink or tub in the house. Then turn on the cold water shut-off valve that was turned off earlier. Allow the water heater to fill. Close the temperature and pressure relief valve and the faucet when the water is running at a steady stream.

6. Check the new drain valve to make sure it's tight, then turn on the gas supply or power to the water heater.

Tips & Warnings

• Have some rags handy, as some water may come out when you take off the old drain valve.
• Water drained from the water heater is hot. Exercise caution when draining the water heater. Don't let children or pets near the area where water is draining.