Draining Water Heater?

Question

When should the water heater be drained? I've never done it and am wondering if that's something that's supposed to be done annually or something. Is it easy to do, and what are the benefits?

Answer 1

It should be done regularly, and yes it is easy. It can be hard if you follow the "turn every thing off open the relief and completely drain it" method. (which doesn't do much IMHO) The best way is to leave everything on. Hook a short piece of hose to the drain valve and drain a couple of gallons into a bucket. Dump the bucket. Let the heater stand for a couple of minutes and repeat. What you are trying to do is blast crud out using the water pressure, letting it settle and blasting it again. Repeat a few times and you will remove a lot of deposits from the bottom of the tank. Do this every 6 months (maybe when you change the clocks?) to add years of life to the iron tank and improve it's efficiency.

Answer 2

Do not open the drain valve because it may not close completely and drip.The drain valve on a water heater is not the highest quality and the hot water ages the seals.The best plan is to remove the original valve when the heater is new and install a brass ball valve.It has a large handle and is easy to tell from the standard valve.

One important thing to do is to replace the stop valve when you replace a toilet.It is easy to replace when the toilet is off but very difficult when the toilet is seated.I needed to reseat my toilet because the stop valve was frozen.I sprayed the valve with liquid wrench and heated it with a torch and it came off because I had room for leverage.

If you replace the hoses on the washing machine just shut off the water main and do not touch the valves because they could drip out the handle stem and need a rebuild or replacement.Spray oil onto stems when tightening and do not leave open full stop back it closed a quarter turn.

Replace plastic with metal.Water hammer from my icemaker made the supply hose twitch which broke the plastic joint at the supply and flooded my kitchen.A plastic ballcock cracked and flooded my bathroom.Both times it was in the middle of the night and I was standing there which is about the limits of good luck.Plumbers charge $100 an hour so every hour you spend under the sink is a pay raise.

Answer 3

There is a drain located at the bottom of the tank. It has a connection fr a garden hose, so you can run it out of the house or to a floor drain.
Most people don't drain their water heater unless they are having problems or need to replace something (like a heating element on electric models). I wouldn't think this is somethinig you need to do annually, but sometimes sediment can build in the bottom of the heater and draining can flush it out. This will improve heating efficiency and in the case of electric models, prolong the live of the bottom element.

Answer 4

most manufactures recommend you drain a water heater every month. most folks have never even heard of this. the reason they want it drained is to keep lime from building up in the tank. the thing is, most water heaters have a cheap plastic drain valve on them that is clogged up by a cat fart.

so, either dont worry about it until the lower element goes out, or go buy a 3/4" x 3" nipple, a 3/4" brass ball valve, and a male hose x 3/4" male pipe thread adapter to replace the plastic valve.


when this valve gets clogged with nasties, you can take the hose off and run a piece of wire into the tank and break up the lime chunks.

you really dont have to drain the tank, you just need to run water out of the drain (with the supply valve open) and that will wash out most of the lime.

hope this helps,
Possum

Answer 5

You don't need to drain it but flushing the scale and sediment out is a good idea. Hook a hose up to the bottom of the tank and flush the crap out of it. It can save the bottom heating element,if it is electric, and will make it work more efficiently if it is gas.

Answer 6

you should drain your tank annually,, even city water has chemicals that build up in the tank,,,, it is very easy to do,,, and NO,,,, there is NO sealed tank in a hot water heater!!! try to google "draining a hot water heater" or go to repairclinic.com!!

Answer 7

Once or twice a year, to remove sediment:
http://www.bobvila.com/BBS/water_heater_cleanout__how_why_and_general_ugh-Plumbing-1-F3889.html
Note where it says Not to open the Pressure Relief Valve (has the toggle on it) as it may not reseal.
To allow the water to flow out, just open a hot water valve somewhere in the house.
Check the initial outflow for sediment particles by running the hose into a bucket or something for the first 15-30 seconds.
I do this all the time.

Answer 8

Plumbers Paterson NJ

Answer 9

if you haven't been doing it don't start. you could open a can of worms that you don't want. they will last about a year longer than the warrenty. if you drain/ flush out the sediment it can start to leak. start to maintain it when you replace it with a new one.

Answer 10

you should not drain a water heater air in a sealed unit well create rust. you can open drain valve to disgard water diposits