How do I drain a propane hot water heater?

Question

I have never drained a hot water heater before and was told that it should be drained every couple of years to help make the water heater last longer.

Answer 1

Your hot water heater should be drained according to the sand , etc that you get in your area. Some areas with wells will get a lot more sand in them. Take a glass full of water and look at it in the light, if you see some sand or, grains of sand you'll know for sure. A city water supply will have a lot less if any at all.
To drain it shut the water supply off. then the gas, you'll have to re-light later, then put a hose to the lower bib of the tank and run it to a drain in the floor. If it's full of sand you might have to take a clothes hanger and make a wire out of it, shove it up the faucet and twist it around to loosen the sand, the water flow will carry the sand out. Occasionally turn the water on to help flush the sand out. Sometimes I've flushed heaters that were half full of sand. The start up again.

Answer 2

hook up a garden hose to the drain cock, on the lower part of the tank. TURN THE GAS VALVE TO THE OFF POSITION!! put end of hose outside house or in sump pump pit or bathtub wherever it can drain to. Shut off water supply to water heater most times the valve is on the pipe just above the water heater it will be the one on the right if you are standing in front of the tank. open a couple faucets, just on the hot side. open the valve where the hose attatches allow water to drain completely. now once it's all out before you unhook the hose or if at any point before it's empty, it stops draining, shut faucets off turn the water supply back on that will push debris out through the hose cleaning the bottom of the unit. Run water until clear the shut water supply back off open those faucets back up and allow to drain completely. unhook hose . leave faucets open turn water supply back on slowly about half way or a touch less allow time for unit to fill and water to begin to come out of the faucets on the hot side re-lite water heater set temperature water will be hot in an hour or so

Answer 3

Heating water accounts for up to 30 percent of the average home's energy budget. Some makers of gas-fired tankless water heaters claim their products can cut your energy costs up to half over regular storage heaters. So is it time to switch?

Answer 4

Turn off the heat, there is a dial on the gas control, and should be instructions nearby, suggest piulot light only setting so you don't have to relight it.
there is a draincock on the side, and draining 3-4 gallons is often enough, if it is done regularly. drain into a bucket or use a hose, but make sure it can handle the heat. if a floor drain is near a hose from your washing machine might be enough.