How to Drain a Water Heater
Homeowners, especially new homeowners, may not think about learning how to drain a water heater until it’s too late. As part of regular maintenance – just like you would change your car’s oil – draining the water heater in your home one time per year can improve performance and remove sediment.
A water heater is one of the most essential appliances in your home – and if it stops working well or is not working at all, everyone is left unhappy with a cold shower.
How to Drain and Flush Your Home’s Water Heater
- Step one: Kill the power to the water heater.
- Step two: Turn off the cold water supply, and let the water in the tank sit for a while.
- Step three: Attach a hose to the bottom of the tank where the connection is, and open the valve to drain the heater. Make sure the pressure relief valve on the top of the appliance is open.
- Step four: Flush out the water heater by turning the cold water supply back on for a few minutes.
- Step five: Turn the cold water supply back off, close the pressure relief valve and the hose valve, and turn the water supply back on to fill the tank.
- Step six: Flip the breaker back on to restore power.
Why You Should Flush Your Water Heater Regularly
The main reason you want to regularly maintain your home’s water heater is that minerals like magnesium and calcium build up over time, depending on how hard your water is. This sediment can get stuck in the water heater and prevent it from working efficiently (or at all). If you know you have extremely hard water, consider draining it two or three times a year. Always check your owner’s manual for directions and locations of valves.
If you feel uncomfortable draining the heater on your own, call one of Gotelli Plumbing’s professionals today.
