How to Drain & Flush Water Heaters

Removing sediment from your water heater will let your faucet run cleanly and freely.

Water heaters often function well with minimal maintenance. However, it's a good idea to drain and flush your water heater to prevent sediment from accumulating on the bottom of the water heater. This sediment is usually composed of calcium deposits, sand, grit and other impurities in your water. The amount of soot in your water depends on the source of the water and its compositional makeup. Water heaters that utilize water with higher deposits of sand such as well water will need to be drained and flushed more often.

Things You'll Need

• Garden hose
• 5 gallon bucket

Instructions

Drain the tank

1. Power down your water heater by flipping down the heater's circuit switch on your breaker box.

2. Locate the intake water pipe at the base of the heater and close the valve by turning the lever with your hand all the way to the right.

3. Turn on the hot water in any sink in your house. You'll begin to hear air burps coming from the faucet along with the water. This is the sound of the tank draining.

4. Locate the drainage valve on the base of the heater and twist off the plastic cap by turning it to the left with your hand.

5. Attach the garden hose to the valve.

6. Place the bucket on the floor near the water heater and place the nozzle of the garden hose in the bucket.

7. Open the valve and let the water drain into a bucket until no more water drips from the hose. You'll see sediment in the bucket.

Flush the tank

1. Close your sink's hot water faucet.

2. Open the intake water valve at the base of the water heater slowly until you hear the water entering the heater.

3. Fill the bucket with water as it flows out of the garden hose again.

4. Shut the water intake valve at the base of the heater when the bucket is almost full.

5. Close the drainage valve on the heater and remove the hose.

6. Replace the plastic drainage valve cap by screwing it to the right until it is tightly secured.

7. Open the water intake valve at the base of the water heater.

8. Flip the switch on the breaker box to repower the water heater.

9. Turn on the hot water in any sink. You will hear air burps as the water begins to flow back into the pipes. Continue to run the water until the stream of water is clear and flowing smoothly.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep an eye on the bucket so it doesn't overflow with water.

• If you have a gas powered heater, put the heat on the lowest setting before draining the tank.

• If you don't turn off the power to your water heater you could ruin the heating coils.

References

• Chillipepper Appliance: Water Heater Flush - How to Flush a Gas or Electric Water Heater
• Natural Handyman: Draining the Sediment From Your Hot Water Heater