How to Drain an Electric Hot Water Heater

Homeowners can improve the economic performance and extend the life of their electric water heaters by routinely draining the tanks and removing accumulated sediment from the hot water heater reservoirs.
Using basic safety procedures, this task can be performed with little effort in under 30 minutes.

Things You'll Need

• 50-foot hose
• 2-gallon bucket

Instructions

1. Turn off power to the water heater by turning off the supporting circuit breaker.

2. Connect the garden hose to the drain valve located near the base of the heater tank. Position opposite end of hose outside the house where the drained water can run off without contacting shrubs, plants or lawn.

3. Turn off the cold water inlet valve located on top of the tank.

4. Slowly open the pressure relief valve on the top of the heater and leave the relief valve open.

5. Open the drain valve on the bottom of the tank and allow the water to drain through the hose. Draining water into a 2-gallon bucket makes the quantity of sediment being removed more visible and measurable.

6. Remove heavy sediment blockages (drain clogged with sediment) by closing the pressure relief valve and turning the cold water inlet valve on. This will only be necessary in systems that have not been drained for very long periods of time.

7. Continue to drain and flush the tank until no sediment is observed in the water collected in the 2-gallon bucket.

8. Close the drain valve, remove the hose, close the pressure release valve and turn the cold water inlet valve on.

9. Open the hot water faucet inside the house and run water until air bubbles clear out of the line.

10. Turn circuit breaker on.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the exit end of the hose away from children and pets, as the initial water may be scalding. Drain water away from plants and lawn, as sediment may harm these.