Most water heater manufacturers advise draining a water heater at least twice a year. This helps in removing any sediment or buildup that usually gets collected on the bottom of the water heater tank. These buildups result in forcing the water heater to work harder to heat the water. This will use more energy and cost more money to run.
There is a good chance that the drain valve wouldn’t be fully closed once you opened it to drain the tank. You will have to put a cap over the valve or else replace the drain valve completely. If your water heater has been using a cheap plastic valve all this while, this is the time you should upgrade it. Here are the 5 steps to drain a water heater and keep it free of sediments.
How to Drain a Hot Water Heater Quickly?
1. Turn off the Water Heater
Before starting the process, turn off the water heater, regardless of whether it’s a gas or electric heater.
Simply turning off the gas should work for a gas water heater.
Turn off the power, if it’s an electric heater.
2. Check if the Water has Cooled Down
Let the water in the tank cool. This might take one or two hours. The water cools down only when the power is off. Draining the water heater while the machine is still running will heat the water to dangerous levels, this will damage the heating elements.
3. Open the Drain Valve
Open the drain valve with an attached drain hole. Remove one end of the hot water pipe above the water heater and pull it to the side just a bit. This will allow maximum flow of water through the drain.
4. Flush the Tank with Water
You might have to let in more cold water, if the water draining out isn’t clean, this will stir up the remaining dirt. Keep draining the tank and make sure there’s no more sediment left.
5. Refill the Water Heater
Refill the water heater with clean water. Make sure you don’t have any water leaks and correct the situation if you find any.
Trust experienced professionals!
Draining a water heater can be a hectic process and usually requires you to be very careful. Doing it in the wrong way can have serious problems. For handling different kinds of water heaters and better service you need to hire professionals who are trained to be able to. Ring Castle Rock Heating & Air at (303) 798-0035 today.
