Cut the Water Supply

Get your tools ready – a garden hose (to help direct the water away from the house), a bucket or pan, an adjustable wrench, and a flat-head screwdriver. Covering anything you don’t want to get wet is also a good idea. The first step is to shut off the power supply to your water heater. For gas water heaters, this means turning the control knob to the pilot position.

Once the power is off, connect a garden hose to the drain valve on the bottom of the tank. Run the hose to where you can safely dump the hot water and sediment (like your driveway or in a large bucket). Use a hose with a wider diameter than a standard garden hose, reducing the time it takes to drain the tank.

Shut Down the Power Switch

Before starting the process, you must shut off the power to your water heater. This can be done by turning the gas valve to the pilot setting on a gas water heater or shutting off the power to your water heater in the circuit breaker panel on an electric unit.

Once the power is turned off, you should also turn off your water supply to the tank by turning off the cold water valve above the unit or by locating and turning off the main water shutoff valve for the home. If you don’t have a shutoff valve, you can use a standard garden hose to siphon the water from the tank. Once the water has been completely drained, you should close the valve.

Attach Hose to Drain Valve

In most cases, the water heater drain valve is near the bottom of the tank. If it has a cover over the opening, remove it. Then, attach a standard garden hose to the valve and place the other end in an outdoor drain or on a floor drain in the house. It would help if you opened any hot water tap in the house to help drain the tank quickly.

Once clear water flows out of the hose, close the drain valve and allow the tank to drain completely. This may take up to an hour. If the tank is not draining quickly, stir the sediment by pouring cold water into the drain pipe. This will cause it to clog less often and extend the life of your water heater.

Once the drain valve is closed, you can turn on the power supply to refill the tank. This is an excellent opportunity to check and correct any water leaks. This will be easier if you have already shut off the water supply to the water heater.

Open Hot Water Tap

Draining the tank regularly is the best way to keep sediment from building up in the unit and causing problems. If left unattended, excessive sediment can lead to extra wear on the unit, shortening its lifespan & costing you more in electricity or gas to run it.

Turn off the water supply to the heater by shutting the water supply valve (usually located near the cold water supply pipe on top of the tank). Then, turn on a hot water tap somewhere else in your house, opening it wide enough to relieve pressure in the water tank and initiate efficient drainage.

After a few minutes, open the drain valve (it may be slightly tricky due to sediment build-up) and direct the hose to a floor drain or outdoors. Leave the drain valve open until you see clear water dripping from it.

Once the tank has drained, close the drain valve and pressure relief valve, disconnect the hose, and turn on the power supply to relight or restore power to the heater.

Open Drain Valve

Having your water heater drained regularly is the best way to extend its life and improve efficiency. This service will remove remaining sediment that builds up in the tank’s bottom. Over time, this sediment can decrease the tank’s capacity and cause it to fail earlier.

First, you need to shut off the water supply to your water heater. To do this, find the valve on either the side or the top of your water heater and lift it. This will allow air to enter the tank and alleviate pressure. Once you’ve done this, close the valve.

You can attach a standard garden hose to the drain valve on your hot water heater. Ensure the hose is directed somewhere lower than your water heater, where hot rusty water can’t cause damage (such as a basement floor drain or outside).

Once your hose is connected, open one of your hot water taps in your home to drain the tank quickly. This will speed up the process significantly.

Conclusion

The importance of draining your water heater cannot be overstated. Sediment accumulation not only decreases the heater’s efficiency but also poses potential risks to its components. Neglecting this maintenance task can result in costly repairs or even the need for a full replacement of the unit.

Tommie’s Plumbing | Best Water Heater Installation

At Tommie’s Plumbing, we understand the importance of draining the water heater properly. With our expertise and dedication to quality service, we offer various services, including water heater installation, tankless water heaters, sewer and drain cleaning, assistance with high water bills, and fixing high water pressure issues.

Don’t compromise on comfort and safety—contact Tommie’s Plumbing today for reliable solutions tailored to your needs.