Unlock better hot water and efficiency: learn to drain and flush your water heater
If you’re not using a water softener or filter, hard water sediment can build up in your water heater tank. This can lead to less hot water, reduced efficiency, and a shorter lifespan for your appliance.
Here’s a simple tip to combat this: Make it a habit to flush about a quart of water from your tank twice a year. This small act of planned maintenance can make a big difference, helping you enjoy more hot water, lower energy bills, and a longer-lasting water heater. Just be very careful, and you can be working with scalding water.
How to flush a water heater
- Turn the Knob on Your Hot Water Heater’s Thermostat to “Off”
- Turn off the electric or gas supply.
- Put on rubber gloves to help prevent contact with scalding water.
- You can do laundry or take a shower to help drain the hot water.
- Turn off the cold water supply lever to a 90-degree angle.
- Connect a garden hose to the water heater drain valve.
- Place the other end of the hose in a drain or outside. Remember, you are working with scalding water.
- If your heater is elevated, place a bucket beneath the drain and open it until the water runs clear.
- The water heater won’t drain? Open the pressure relief valve and turn on a hot water faucet. This will break the vacuum and allow the water to flow out of the hose.
- Open the tank drain valve. HOT, cloudy water should start coming out of the hose. It can take 30 minutes to drain a water heater tank, depending on the size. Can drain under 1 gallon per minute.
- After draining the water, close the Temperature & Pressure (T&P) relief valve and the faucets before turning on the cold water supply.
- Flush the water heater tank by opening and closing the cold water supply lever a few times. This should help flush out any remaining sediment in the tank. Flush the water heater until you see clear water.
- Close the water heater drain valve and disconnect the hose from the valve. If the drain valve drips when closed, you may need to buy a galvanized threaded cap to stop the leak. Sometimes the drain valve does not close completely, especially with plastic valves.
- Open the water heater’s cold water valve to fill the tank in about 10 minutes.
- Turn on a hot-water faucet to purge air from the tank.
- When you start to get clear water instead of a cloudy air-water mixture, turn off the hot faucet.
- Turn the gas or electric water heater back on for warm, cozy comfort in about 40 minutes.
- If you prefer a professional to drain and maintain your water heater, please contact your neighbors at PDM Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Since 1885. Call 815-390-7095.
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Call the PDM water heater king since 1885 for help today
Get the plumbing service you need with the peace of mind you deserve. PDM plumbers are committed to your health and safety, wearing shoe covers and gloves to protect your home. We also practice social distancing and leave your space spotless. That’s the difference between the PDM healthy service call. As PDM Water Heater King, we’ve been a trusted part of the greater Joliet, Plainfield, New Lenox, Bolingbrook, and the SW Chicago Suburbs for 1401 years.
