How to Drain a Water Heater
Maintenance plays an essential role in making sure that your plumbing system is working well and is running as efficiently as possible. Your hot water heater is an important piece of this puzzle. Regular water heater maintenance, like flushing the appliance, can also help increase the longevity of your system. This means you’ll require fewer repairs and go longer without having to replace anything.
We’ve already talked about what you need to know about draining your water heater, and in this post, we’ll go over exactly how to do it. It’s a fairly simple process that is easy to do and only takes a few minutes. Follow our guidelines below to learn how to drain a hot water heater properly!
1. Flush Out the Water Heater
Connect a hose to the appliance’s drain valve, then open it and let the water heater flush out. If there is a good deal of sediment coming from it, repeat this process again.
2. Turn Off the Water Heater
Turn off the water heater by flipping the breaker or switching the gas to “Pilot”, and turn off the water supply too.
3. Open Up the Drain Valve
Place the hose over a bucket or a floor drain. Open the valve and twist the hot water pipe that is located at the top of the tank until water comes out.
4. Drain the Tank
Flip the water flow back on and allow it to run for about 10 to 20 seconds. Now, open the drain valve again and let that water flush out of the tank. Continue doing this step until there is no more sediment in the water that’s draining.
5. Refill the Water Heater
Close the drain valve and take the hose off of it. Turn on the water supply to the water heater. Turn on a hot water tap somewhere in the property, and as soon as the air is out and water starts flowing, turn it off.
6. Turn the Water Heater Back On
Turn on the pilot light, gas, or electricity again. Give the water heater about an hour to heat back up fully.
7. Test the Drain Valve
Make sure there are not any leaks around the drain valve. If there are, make sure that the valve is closed fully. If that doesn’t fix the leaking, try capping the valve or having it replaced.
Wimpy’s is Here to Help Drain Your Water Heater
Make sure that you stay on top of the maintenance for your property’s water heater. It is an easy process that will provide you with plenty of peace of mind. If you do not feel comfortable doing it yourself, give the team at Wimpy’s Plumbing & Air a call. We can also answer any questions you may have about water heaters!
