How to Drain a Water Heater From the Basement

Many homes have a built in hot water heater in the basement. This large tank holds a steady supply of water that is kept heated by an electric or gas heating system. If the tank is being removed from the building, it is advisable to first drain the water inside. This process is also useful for clearing the heater of built up sediment inside from years of usage.

Things You'll Need

• Heavy duty garden hose
• Access to basement floor drain or heavy duty plastic bucket

Instructions

1. Turn off the power supply to the water heater. If it is an electric water heater, locate the main switch near or on the heater and unplug the unit from the outlet. If it is a gas water heater turn the gas down to "Pilot" mode.

2. Turn the cold water valve control until the valve is closed.

3. Connect one end of the garden hose to the drain valve located on the bottom section of the water heater.

4. Place the other end of the garden hose over the basement floor drain. If you do not have a drain, place the other end in the large bucket but note that you may need to close the drain valve when the bucket is full to empty the bucket before resuming the draining.

5. Verify the hose is secure. Before proceeding, go through the building and turn on the hot water control of any faucets. This includes bathtubs, sinks and any other faucet with a hot water control.

6. Slowly open the drain valve. Monitor the flow of water out of the hose. If the hose becomes hot to the touch, slowly close the drain and allow it to cool before continuing. Close the valve as needed if you need to dump the bucket of water.

7. Turn on the cold water valve on the water heater if the water flow from the hose stops. This will help free up any clogs caused by sediment.

8. Verify the drain valve is closed and the cold water valve is also closed before removing the hose. Turn off any faucets in the building to complete the draining.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a sump pump, you can connect the pump to the hose to expedite the draining process.

• Use extreme care when draining a gas heated hot water heater. If the pilot light goes out with the gas still on, this can pose an explosion risk with gas fumes. Check the gas pilot light frequently during the process to verify it is lit. If you are removing the heater after draining, contact your gas company to have the gas shut off before removal.

References

• Water Heating Info: Draining a Hot Water Heater