We moved into a house that the hot water tank was emptied, and we aren't sure how to fill it back up. Or will it refill on it's own, somehow?
2006-11-20 23:59:49 · 5 answers · asked by buffettgirl15834 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Make sure the heater is off, the drain valve at the bottom is closed, and either open the relief valve on top (if you have it routed to an area where you won't mess up anything on the house) or open a couple of faucets, hot water side. The open the valve for the water entering the heater on top of the heater. If your venting through the relief valve, be sure to stay and watch it. Also watch for leaks at the hot water heater tank and drain valve as it fills. When you get a good stream of water out of the relief valve, shut it back off. Same with any faucets you opened. Then you can turn on the heater (light the pilot if gas or turn on the breaker for electric). You should have hot water in a few hours.
2006-11-21 01:37:55 · answer #1 · answered by Jeffrey S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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The proper way to drain a water heater is: Turn off the heating element whether gas or electric. Attach a garden hose to the faucet near the bottom, and lead the hose outdoors, and downhill. Let the tank cool, so you don't damage the hose with heat. Turn off the feed valves at top of tank, both in and out. Open the valve at bottom which is attached to the hose. Open the spring loaded "pop off" valve (temp and pressure relief valve) which is high on the side of the tank, and connected to tubes which lead outdoors. As the tank drains, air will come in through the pop off valve, so there won't be a vacuum inside. This will allow greater flow rate, which will help remove sediment. After it's empty, close the valve at bottom, remove the hose, close the pop off valve, open the top valves, and after it refills, turn the heat back on. If there's so much sediment buildup as to impede the flow of water out of the tank, it's probably time to replace it. A newer tank will be safer, will cost much less to operate than the clogged one, and will deliver hot water at a fast rate when you want it. Drain the tank annually so the new tank doesn't get sediment buildup. A lot of people put a scrap of old hose on the outlet valve, and drain off 5 gallons every month into a big bucket, then let the bucket cool before discarding. This works pretty well if you do it every month, and it's much less time consuming than the annual maintenance.
2016-04-11 05:48:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok. The tank has to be off. Look at the top of the hot water tank. There should, be a valve. Open it up. Do this very slow. You will hear water going into the tank. When it stops the tank is full of water. Then turn it on.
2006-11-21 00:10:17 · answer #3 · answered by Can Do 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make sure the bottom drain valve is closed and open the top water valve, you should hear the water going in. It will level itself off and, lite it.
2006-11-21 00:06:50 · answer #4 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what cowboy said BUT before turning power on open outlet valve to see if water comes out under presser(like the taps) then you know it is full
2006-11-21 00:10:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋