Draining A Hot Water Heater

We recently talked about some maintenance tips for prolonging the life of your hot water heater. One of our most important tips is to drain your hot water heater twice a year. If you’re not a professional plumber, draining a hot water heater may sound like a daunting task.

Today we’re going to run through a few easy steps on how to drain a hot water heater. You may be wondering if this is truly important or necessary. Your hot water heater is possibly the most used appliance in your home. Over time and through normal use, sediment builds up in your hot water heater. This can lead to energy inefficiency, clogs, or eventually no hot water in your home! We can’t stress enough the importance of draining your hot water heater each year as part of your yearly home maintenance.

Here’s how to drain a hot water heater-

Turn off the water supply- If its electric, turn off the power at the breaker box. If its gas, turn the thermostat to the pilot setting. Connect a drain hose to the valve near the thermostat and turn off the cold water supply.
Drain the water- To prevent forming a vacuum, turn on one of the hot water faucets in your hosue (the tub, the sink, etc.). Open the drain valve on the hot water heater. Make sure the end of the hose that the hot water is draining out of is far away from anything that could be damaged by hot water.
Get rid of any remaining sediment- Once all the hot water has drained out of the water heater, turn the cold water supply back on to flush out any sediment that remains in the hot water heater. Once all sediment has been washed out, close the drain valve and turn off the faucet inside your house. Make sure to read all the warning labels and instructions that go with your hot water heater- some hot water heaters need to remain full in order to prevent any damage.
Check the pressure release valve- Turn your power supply back on once your tank has refilled. Once the temperature has come back up, check your pressure release valve by using the instructions that came with your hot water heater.

Remember, if you don’t feel comfortable draining a hot water heater yourself, at Masterflo Plumbing we will be more than happy to come out and do it for you! We boast a large team of qualified, experienced professionals who would love to come out and see you for a hot water heater maintenance visit. Draining a hot water heater is an important step in prolonging the life of your water heater. For all your hot water heater needs contact us today at (678) 822-7095!