How to Replace the Drain Valve in a Gas Water Heater

The drain valve may need to be periodically replaced in a hot water heater. If you feel comfortable making the repair yourself, it is a relatively quick home improvement job. Exact locations of the the various valves may vary depending on your particular unit but there is a basic process that you need to follow to remove the old drain valve, and install a new one. Always follow the safety information and advice in your unit's user manual.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wrench Pipe sealer Garden hose Towels

1. Turn off the gas supply.

2. Shut off the cold water valve. This will be on the cold water pipe coming into the top of the unit. The other pipe is the hot water outlet and it doesn't have a valve.

3. Open the pressure relief valve on the pipe that comes down the side of the unit.

4. Drain the water heater by attaching a hose to the drain valve and run it outside or to a floor drain.

5. Remove the hose after draining and close the drain valve.

6. Take the drain valve off with a wrench.

7. Apply pipe sealer to the threads of the new drain valve and screw it onto the fixture where the old one was removed.

8. Turn on a hot water faucet somewhere in the house.

9. Open the cold water shut-off valve on the water heater.

10. Wait for the water heater to fill. When it is full, the water will run steadily from the hot water faucet that was opened in step 8.

11. Close the pressure relief valve and turn off the faucet.

12. Turn the gas supply back on.

Tips & Warnings

• Some water may get on the floor so have some towels handy.