How to Drain a Propane Water Heater

Draining your propane water heater is an important annual to semi-annual maintenance project that will help to lengthen its service life and decrease energy costs. Draining your propane water heater flushes out the sediment that builds up over time--sediment that makes your water heater work overtime to do its job. Sediment is calcium carbonate that precipitates out of the water during the heating process and settles on the bottom of the water heater. By flushing this sediment out regularly, your water heater will last longer and won't have to work as hard to heat your water.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Garden hose Floor drain or other drain source

1. Turn the cold water supply to the propane water heater off.

2. Turn the temperature setting down to the lowest setting, but do not turn the propane supply valve off. Turn the hot water on on a faucet that is near the water heater to prevent vacuum build-up in the water lines.

3. Attach a garden hose to the propane water heater drain valve. The drain valve is at the bottom of the front side of the water heater. There may be a cap on the drain valve, so unscrew it and attach a garden hose. Be sure the garden hose has a hose washer in the end of it to prevent drips and leaks.

4. Open the drain valve and allow the water in the tank to drain completely. Turn the cold water supply back on and allow the tank to flush until the water comes out of the garden hose clear.

5. Turn the hot water faucet off. Close the drain valve and allow the tank to refill. When the tank is full, turn the temperature setting back up to the desired water temperature.

6. Test the pressure relief valve, which is located on the top of the propane water heater, to be sure it works correctly. Electric water heaters have pressure relief valves on the side of the water heater. Pressure relief valves prevent dangerous pressure build-up in the tank. If it does not work when tested, have it checked by a licensed plumber as soon as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult your owner's manual for additional maintenance suggestions. Sediment causes problems in different ways to different types of water heaters. Electric water heaters are designed differently than propane and natural gas water heaters. Propane and natural gas water heaters heat the water in the tank via a burner located at the bottom of the unit. When sediment precipitates to the bottom of a gas-heated water heater, the sediment acts as a type of insulator that causes the water heater to burn more gas and work harder to heat the water. An electric water heater heats the water using upper and lower heating elements. As with a gas water heater, sediment precipitates to the bottom of electric waters as well, often choking the lower heating element causing it to burn out. Whether you have a propane, natural gas, or electric water heater, draining and flushing your water heater regularly is a good maintenance practice.
• Direct the other end of the hose to a place that will be unaffected by exposure to hot water, like a driveway, side walk, or gutter.